Sporting CP travel to Austria on Tuesday night as they take on Sturm Graz on Matchday 3 of the Champions League league phase.
Primeira Liga champions Sporting have emerged as Portugal’s supreme force under Ruben Amorim and have enjoyed a 100% start to the 2024/25 domestic campaign through eight games. Amorim’s side edged past second tier side Portimonense 2-1 in the Taca de Portugal on Friday night.
Sporting have started their league phase campaign with four points from two games having earned a well-earned draw at PSV on Matchday 2. They opened their account with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Lille.
Sturm Graz, meanwhile, have suffered two defeats to Brest and Club Brugge. It looks as if they’ve got their work cut out if they’re to make the top 24 which would see them advance into the play-off round.
Tuesday’s hosts won their fourth Austrian Bundesliga title last season and have made a great start to their defence in 2024/25. They’ve made use of a transitioning RB Salzburg side, recently beating them 5-0, and currently sit atop the division after ten games.
Here is 90min’s guide to Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday.
What time does Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP kick-off?
Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP H2H Record (All Time)
Current form (all competitions)
How to watch Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP on TV and live stream
Sturm Graz team news
Former Arsenal striker Mika Biereth is the man to keep an eye out for on Tuesday night. The London-born 21-year-old has started the season superbly, scoring eight times in ten Austrian Bundesliga games, and is the division’s leading marksman. However, he is yet to open his Champions League account.
Alexandar Borkovic is back in training having recovered from a long-term knee injury, but he won’t be featuring on Tuesday. Sturm Graz are also without Jon Gorenc-Stankovic and Gregory Wuthrich, while Arjan Malic is a doubt with a muscle injury.
Sturm Graz predicted lineup vs Sporting CP
Sturm Graz predicted lineup vs Sporting CP (3-4-3): Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Lavalee, Aiwu; Yalcouye, Kiteishvili, Chukwuani, Geyrhofer; Boving, Biereth, Jatta.
Sporting CP team news
Amorim was able to rest a couple of key starters at the weekend, with Viktor Gyokeres among those who should be fresh for Tuesday’s game.
However, the visitors are without several notable names for their visit to Austria, especially in defence. The highly-rated Ousmane Diomande and Goncalo Inacio are both absent, as is Matheus Reis. Jeremiah St Juste is back in action, however, and will start on Tuesday.
Marcus Edwards and Pedro Goncalves are unlikely to feature due to thigh and hamstring injuries respectively.
Sporting CP predicted lineup vs Sturm Graz
Sporting CP predicted lineup vs Sturm Graz (3-4-3): Israel; Debast, St Juste, Quaresma; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Nuno Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Quenda,
Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP score prediction
Sporting are one of the teams to keep an eye on as this competition progresses, but Amorim is currently having to manage a difficult period given their number of absences. The visitors have a deep enough squad to cope on multiple fronts, but they are without key players in both defence and attack.
What initially appeared a favourable fixture for Sporting may be much harder than expected. The hosts are no world beaters, but winning away in Europe is tough and Sturm Graz are in a buoyant mood thanks to their impressive domestic form.
Amorim’s side should be on upset alert, but they should just about get the job done.
