Sturm Graz find themselves back in the big time having won the Austrian Bundesliga last season, just the fourth league title in their history. It has been a tough start in the UEFA Champions League however, with losses to Brest and Club Brugge so far.
Sporting CP are enjoying a spell of sustained success under Rúben Amorim and have progressed to the knockout stage of European competition in the last three consecutive seasons – twice in the Europa League and once in the Champions League. They’ve picked up four points from two games and have good memories of facing this opposition as recently as last season.
Our 3 Predictions for Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP
- 1st prediction: Both teams to score @ 1.78
- 2nd prediction: Under 9.5 corners @ 1.84
- 3rd prediction: Sporting CP to win 2-1 @ 8.50
1st Prediction for Both teams to score @ 1.78
Sporting CP won both clashes last season in the Europa League but it was only 2-1 in the away meeting and at odds of 1.36, they don’t make a lot of appeal here as heavy favourites.
More value looks to be had in taking both teams to score, an outcome that has obliged in two of the four Champions League games contested by these teams so far this season.
Sturm Graz fired a blank at home against Club Brugge on Matchday Two, but they went into the international break buoyed by a 5-0 win over RB Salzburg and should be ready to ignite their season now.
Sporting CP are the likeliest winners but taking both teams to score is much more appealing at the prices.
2nd Prediction for Under 9.5 corners @ 1.84
A combined corners market set at around 9.5 is worth going under. There were only four corners in Sporting’s trip to Eindhoven on Matchday Two, the home side contributing none, while their Champions League opener against Lille had just five in total.
There were nine corners in Sturm Graz’s 0-1 loss against Club Brugge on Matchday Two – still not a tally high enough to down this bet – while their opening loss to Brest in France featured just seven corners.
Getting into double figures with kicked restarts looks a tall enough order.
3rd Prediction for Sporting CP to win 2-1 @ 8.50
As noted, Sporting CP look rather short in the match betting to win. They won 2-1 at the Stadion Graz Liebenau when these sides met in the Europa League last season, coming from a goal behind as star forward Viktor Gyökeres launched a late revival and hugely talented Ivory Coast defender Ousmane Diomande got the winner six minutes from the time. The latter may sit this one out after coming off injured in Eindhoven last month.
Still, the Portuguese champions are likely to have enough in reserve to justify their position as match favourites and a repeat scoreline, this time in the Wörthersee Stadion is decent value.
Best Odds for Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP
Full Preview of the Game: Last Results and Head-to-Head
SK Sturm Graz are delighted to be back amongst the big boys of European football this season, their first Champions League campaign since 2000/01.
Coach Christian Ilzer took over in 2020 and won the Austrian Bundesliga at the third time of asking last season after successive silver medals. It was just the fourth time Sturm Graz had won the league. They also beat Rapid Wien in the Austrian Cup final to complete a domestic double.
Sporting CP also appointed Rúben Amorim as their boss in 2020 and he soon steered the Lions to their first Liga title in 19 years. Under the watch of the former Portugal midfielder, Sporting have now claimed two titles in four seasons after seeing off rivals Benfica and Porto to finish top.
They have also showed up well in continental competition, making the knockout stages in three successive seasons. Their Europa League hopes were dashed last season by eventual winners Atalanta in the last-16.
These clubs met in that 2023/24 Europa League in the group stage, with Sporting CP claiming home and away wins.
Where to watch Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP
As noted, the clubs are familiar to one another, having met in the Europa League group stage last season, with Sporting CP winning 3-0 at home and 2-1 in Austria.
- Location: Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria
- Date: Tuesday, October 22 – KO 20:00
- TV Channel: TNT Sports
Probable lineups Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP
Viktor Gyökeres has been a revelation since joining Sporting CP in the summer of 2023, the Swedish forward scoring 29 times in the Primeira Liga last season and also netting five in the Europa League. He is their leading man up top.
Ex-Arsenal youth product Mika Biereth signed permanently for Sturm Graz this summer after impressing on loan and the Danish U21 international will hope to make his mark at this level.
Sturm Graz lineup
Scherpen; Gazibeovic, Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Lavalee; Horvat, Yalcouye, Kiteishvili; Boving, Biereth, Jatta
Injured/Suspended: Borkovic, Wuthrich, Gorenc Stankovic
Coach: Christian Ilzer
Sporting CP lineup
Israel; Debast, Inacio, Quaresma; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Quenda
Injured/Suspended: Diomande, Edwards, Goncalves, Matheus Reis, St Juste
Coach: Rúben Amorim