Sturm Graz vs Midtjylland prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-07 19:00.
It’s a familiar story for Sturm Graz who are returning to UEFA Europa League (UEL) action for a successive season after failing to qualify for this campaign’s Champions League. They’ll hope for better fortunes this time around though, after their group stage elimination at this stage of last season saw them fail to progress into the spring leg of the tournament for the third successive time, with each of those occasions seeing them finish rock-bottom of their group!
With Lazio and Feyenoord laying in wait in Group F, Sturm will be acutely aware that a win is crucial here. Domestic form is at least strong coming into the clash, with the hosts having tasted defeat in just one of their previous five matches (W3, D1) thanks in part to some quick starts, as all three wins saw Sturm score before the 30th minute. They’ll hope that they can continue that trend here on the way to ending a fairly torrid run of 13 defeats across their last 16 European home games.
After their own failure to qualify for the Champions League, Midtjylland are also returning to the UEL for a second successive campaign. The last ended with a third-place group stage finish (despite a healthy nine-point haul) and subsequent exit into the Conference League, something they’ll want to better this time around. Travelling form on the continent has plagued their European endeavours in the past though, with the Danish Cup winners managing just one victory across their last 12 European away games (D5, L6).
On top of this, confidence is expected to be low in the camp with new manager Albert Capellas having made a far from ideal start. He joined the club in July but finds his side sitting eighth of just 12 teams in the Danish Superliga after winning just two of their eight league matches (D3, L3). In search of positives, Capellas may at least take some comfort in his side scoring 2+ goals in eight straight domestic away games (W6, D2).
Players to watch: Exciting young teenager Emanuel Emegha, who joined Sturm in August from Antwerp, will hope to add to his home brace scored against Rheindorf Altach last month. Pione Sisto has scored four goals across his last five competitive away games for Midtjylland, each coming in the opening or closing 30 minutes of the match.
Hot stat: Three of Sturm’s four home UEL games last season – including qualifiers – produced a red card.