0 Sturm Graz vs 1 Club Brugge
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|---|---|
| Bet | Club Brugge |
| Stake | 0.75 unit |
| Odds | 2.67 |
| Bookmaker | betcris |
Sturm Graz, Club Brugge go head-to-head on UCL Match Day 2.
Sturm Graz will aim to overturn their poor UEFA Champions League start when they host a similarly struggling Club Brugge on Wednesday at the Merkur Arena.
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz's UEFA Champions League campaign got off to a disastrous start on Matchday 1 as they succumbed to a defeat against debutants Brest. A late red card saw Dimitri Lavalée sent off in the 88th minute, ensuring Graz were unable to find the leveller, leaving them with a 2-1 loss.
This defeat highlighted a troubling pattern for the Austrian side, who have now lost on the opening UCL matchday in all five campaigns. Elsewhere, a 2-1 victory over BW Linz this past weekend keeps Graz at the summit of the Austrian Bundesliga. It was the club’s second victory in five games across all competitions.
As they prepare for their maiden meeting with Club Brugge, the Blackies will look to reverse their fortunes against Belgian outfits. They have lost their last three encounters without finding the back of the net against such sides. However, Sturm Graz have struggled on Match Day 2 of the UEFA Champions League, losing three of their previous four fixtures.
Manager Christian Ilzer is expected to field Seedy Jatta and Mika Biereth in a 4-4-2 setup. The team will be without Lavalée, who is suspended, and Gregory Wüthrich, who is sidelined with a ligament injury.
Club Brugge
Club Brugge are also enduring a poor start to their European campaign, having suffered a 3-0 loss to last season’s finalists, Borussia Dortmund, on Matchday 1. That defeat contributed to a recent slump, with the Belgian outfit now winless in three straight games across all competitions.
However, they managed to avoid a third consecutive loss over the weekend, as a late goal from Hans Vanaken rescued a point in a 1-1 draw against Royal Charleroi. Having won their first two group stage games last season, Club Brugge are on the verge of losing two opening UCL matches for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign under Ivan Leko.
Yet, Matchday 2 offers a chance to put an end to a three-game winless streak. Brugge have been particularly successful against Austrian clubs in recent years, winning five of their last six European fixtures against such sides.
Manager Nicky Hayen will have Gustaf Nilsson in attack when he deploys the 4-5-1 formation. The visitors' only injury concern for this midweek fixture is Bjorn Meijer, who is sidelined with a knee injury.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.