Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-09-20 19:00.
Sturm Graz come into their third successive UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage season looking for an upgrade on their bottom placed finishes from their last two campaigns. However, there were real signs of improvement last year as they ended level on points with the other three sides (W2, D2, L2), and placed fourth only due to goal-difference – far better than their 2021/22 UEL season which yielded only two points!
Christian Ilzer’s side got off to a winning UEL start in 2022/23 with a 1-0 home victory over Denmark’s Midtjylland and were unbeaten at the Merkur Arena across the campaign (W2, D1), keeping a clean sheet in each game. This will be the first time in Sturm’s history that they take on Portuguese opposition, and they should do so with confidence in their defence, with only four goals conceded from seven games (W5, D2) so far in an unbeaten start in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Sporting are also unbeaten in the Primeira Liga (W4, D1) and they cruised to a 3-0 win over Moreirense on Sunday. They finished third in their Champions League group last season before dropping into the UEL where they defeated Midtjylland over two-legs, and disposed of Arsenal via penalties in the Round of 16, before their run was ultimately ended by a 2-1 aggregate defeat against Juventus in the quarter finals.
On current form, Rúben Amorim’s team should travel 2800 km north east across Europe in a confident mood for this match. However, their last trip to Austria ended in a 3-0 defeat against LASK Linz in December 2019, and this will be their eighth try at picking up their first victory in the country after seven failed attempts prior (D2, L5).
Players to watch: Otar Kiteishvili has two goals and two assists from his last two appearances for Sturm Graz, with both of his goals arriving in the second half. Viktor Gyökeres has found the net three times already this season for Sporting, but he’s yet to open his away account for the club.
Hot streak: Sturm Graz have scored not more than twice in any of their last 13 UEL games (W3, D4, L6).