Austrian and Belgian champions Sturm Graz and Club Brugge lock horns on Wednesday evening as both sides chase their first Champions League win of the season.
Sturm Graz lost their opener against French debutants Brest 2-1 and brought a three-game winless run to an end at the weekend when they overcame BW Linz. They currently lead the Austrian Bundesliga as they look to retain their title but they face stiff competition from fellow Champions League outfit RB Salzburg.
Club Brugge are Champions League regulars but were comfortably beaten by last year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund in their first match. Jamie Gittens bagged a brace and Serhou Guirassy netted a penalty as the Belgian side slumped to a late defeat on home soil, and they have failed to win either of their two domestic matches since.
Here is 90min’s guide to an intriguing affair in the Champions League.
Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge H2H Record (All Games)
Sturm Graz and Club Brugge have never faced one another in a competitive fixture.
Current form (all competitions)
How to watch Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge on TV and live stream
Sturm Graz team news
Sturm Graz are without Dimitri Lavalee after he was sent off late on in the defeat to Brest on matchday one. Defender Gregory Wuthrich will miss out due to a ligament injury, while the returning Alexandar Borkovic is unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery from injury.
Jon Gorenc-Stankovic was withdrawn at half-time during the weekend win over BW Linz and is a doubt heading into this clash.
Sturm Graz predicted lineup vs Club Brugge
Sturm Graz predicted lineup vs Club Brugge (4-3-1-2): Scherpen; Johnston, Aiwu, Malic, Gazibegovic; Horvat, Yalcouye, Kiteishvili; Boving; Bierith, Jatta.
Club Brugge team news
Bjorn Meijer is missing at left-back for Wednesday’s visitors, with three-cap Belgium international Maxim De Cuyper starting instead. Veteran captain Hans Vanaken will feature in a number ten role, while former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will guard the net.
Midfielder Raphael Onyedika was sent off during the weekend draw with Sporting Charleroi but the 23-year-old’s suspension will be served in domestic competition and not the Champions League.
Club Brugge predicted lineup vs Sturm Graz
Club Brugge predicted lineup vs Sturm Graz (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vetlesen, Onyedika; Skov Olsen, Vanaken, Tzolis; Nilsson.
Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge score prediction
Both sides will be eager to get on the board in the newly-expanded Champions League and they will view Wednesday’s encounter as a winnable fixture. With more challenging matches on the horizon, especially for Club Brugge, the clash at the Merkur Arena could be pivotal in their outside chances of qualification.
Neither side have covered themselves in glory during recent weeks, either in Europe or domestically, but both have plenty of attacking quality to call upon. Club Brugge’s superior squad may be cancelled out by a lively atmosphere in Graz.
