Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Champions League clash between Sturm Graz and Girona, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Austrian champions Sturm Graz are set to welcome Spanish side Girona to Worthersee Stadion on Wednesday in their fifth Champions League fixture of the season.
The home team were beaten 1-0 by Borussia Dortmund on November 5 in their last European match and are fourth last in 33rd place with no points, while the visitors are 29th with three points and lost 4-0 against PSV Eindhoven in early November.
Match preview
Christian Ilzer was head coach of Sturm Graz but was appointed manager of Bundesliga side Hoffenheim in the middle of November, and Jurgen Saumel has taken charge of the Austrians on an interim basis.
While Saumel’s side might have ordinarily been considered underdogs against Dortmund, the German side were forced to field two midfielders in their back four, and perhaps fans might have expected the team to take advantage of their opponents.
Die Schwoazn are currently first in their domestic league with 32 points from 14 matches and are five points ahead of second-placed Rapid Vienna.
Sturm Graz have scored just once in their four Champions League matches while conceding six times, and they have also won four of their six most recent games in all competitions, losing one and drawing one.
The home team have been triumphant in four of their last six home matches, but it should be noted that they have lost their past six fixtures at Worthersee Stadion in the Champions League.
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Girona come into Wednesday’s clash seventh in La Liga with 21 points after 14 matchweeks, and are four points from the division’s fourth and final Champions League qualification spot.
Though the White and Reds were beaten 4-0 by PSV last time out in Europe’s premier competition, they were at least somewhat competitive up until the 55th minute when Arnau Martinez was sent off.
The result was by no means disastrous considering the Spanish side are only two points from 24th-placed PSV, who occupy the Champions League’s final round of 16 playoff spot.
Boss Michel will be alarmed by the fact his team have conceded eight goals and scored just four times in four games in the competition, while they have a record of 20 goals netted and 18 conceded in La Liga.
Girona are in good form having won four of their last five matches and have found the back of the net 13 times in that period.
The visitors have also won two of their three most recent fixtures, but they have worryingly lost five and drawn two of their 10 games on the road this campaign.
Sturm Graz Champions League form:
Sturm Graz form (all competitions):
Girona Champions League form:
Girona form (all competitions):
Team News
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Sturm Graz midfielder Jon Gorenc-Stankovic has not made an appearance since late September due to a shoulder injury, and he will miss the rest of the season.
In his absence, the hosts may field a double pivot consisting of Tochi Chukwuani and Otar Kiteishvili, with Malick Yalcouye and William Boving flanking the pair in wide positions.
Forward Amady Camara is a doubt as a result of illness, and if Wednesday’s game comes too soon then the visitors could select a front two of Mika Biereth and Seedy Jatta.
Girona will be without suspended defender Arnau Martinez, as well as midfielder Yangel Herrera, who is scheduled to make a comeback from a foot injury in the middle of December.
Michel could select a back four of Juanpe, David Lopez, Ladislav Krejci and Daley Blind behind a double pivot featuring Silvi Clua and Oriol Romeu.
Attackers Abel Ruiz, Gabriel Misehouy and Cristian Portu are set to be unavailable, so expect Bryan Gil, Donny van de Beek, Miguel Gutierrez and Bojan Miovski to start in the forward line.
Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Johnston, Aiwu, Lavalee, Gazibegovic; Yalcouye, Chukwuani, Kiteishvili, Boving; Biereth, Jatta
Girona possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Juanpe, Lopez, Krejci, Blind; Romeu, Clua; Gil, Van de Beek, Gutierrez; Miovski
We say: Sturm Graz 1-2 Girona
Considering Sturm Graz will still be adjusting to life without Ilzer, it would not be surprising if they struggled on Wednesday without the guidance of a permanent manager.
Additionally, Girona are in good goalscoring form and they could create several opportunities in the final third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
