Looking to end their respective European campaigns on a high note, Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig will lock horns for a Champions League clash at 28 Black Arena on Wednesday night.
Die Schwoazn are out of the competition following a heavy defeat on the road last time out, whilst Die Roten Bullen are aiming to make it back-to-back wins in the league phase.
Match preview
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Returning from a five-week winter break, Sturm Graz displayed plenty of rustiness at Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo last Tuesday night, when the Austrian visitors suffered a five-goal thrashing at the hands of Atalanta BC, with the Europa League holders limiting their opponents to just the single shot on Marco Carnesecchi's net.
Following their heaviest defeat of the 2024-25 campaign to date, Die Schwoazn are officially unable to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, with Wednesday's visitors currently occupying 33rd position in the league phase table, seven points behind Stuttgart in the lowest of the playoff spots.
After four straight away matches over the span of nearly two months, Sturm Graz will be looking for some home comforts at 28 Black Arena for the first time since November 27, when the Austrian champions secured a shock maximum at the expense of La Liga surprise package Girona.
Scoring the only goal in Die Schwoazn's sole victory of the league phase so far, Mika Biereth was a key force in attack during the first half of the campaign, with the 21-year-old's impressive performances earning him a switch to Ligue 1 giants Monaco earlier this month.
Robbed of the services of the young Dane, Sturm Graz will be relying on a host of players to chip in on the goalscoring front for the remainder of the season, with Jurgen Saumel's side aiming for consecutive Austrian Bundesliga titles after winning their first crown in 13 years during the 2023-24 term.
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Finishing fourth in the Bundesliga last season, RB Leipzig would have been expected to make a real fist of at least reaching the playoff round of the Champions League, but a six-game losing run at the start of the league phase decimated their chances of progression.
There was a pick-me-up result for Die Roten Bullen during gameweek seven last Wednesday night, though, when goals either side of the half-time whistle from Benjamin Sesko and Yussuf Poulsen secured a 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon, who have dropped off a cliff on the European stage since the departure of Ruben Amorim to Manchester United.
Indeed, RB Leipzig have tasted defeat just once across five matches since returning from their respective winter hiatus, collecting a respectable tally of five points from a quartet of Bundesliga contests, including a home maximum over mid-table dwellers Werder Bremen earlier in the month.
Marco Rose's troops showcased their considerable powers of recovery last time out in the German top flight, with David Raum's first of the campaign and a late Edmond Tapsoba own goal forcing a share of the points against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen at Red Bull Arena.
Ahead of Wednesday's trip to Sturm Graz, Leipzig are one of five teams in the 36-team league phase who are yet to earn a point on their travels in the Champions League, with Rose's men suffering defeats at Atletico Madrid, Celtic and Inter Milan at the end of the last calendar year.
Team News
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Sturm Graz remain without the services of centre-back Alexandar Borkovic, who has not featured for the Austrian side since March 2024 due to a serious cruciate ligament injury.
A former player of Motherwell and Cove Rangers in Scotland, Max Johnston is set to be sidelined for a few weeks because of a muscular problem.
There are a number of high-profile absentees in the RB Leipzig camp, including Portuguese marksman Andre Silva, who suffered a calf injury in the Bundesliga this month.
Die Roten Bullen's options in the middle of the park are reduced by the calf strain of Kevin Kampl, with the Slovenian forced off on the weekend against Leverkusen.
The visitors' midfield ranks have been depleted further by the knee injury of Xaver Schlager, who has not played since the 5-1 defeat at Bayern Munich on December 20.
Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Malic, Aiwu, Wuthrich, Lavalee; Chukwuani, Gorenc-Stankovic, Kiteishvili, Yalcouye; Jatta, Grgic
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Nusa, Veerman, Haidara, Simons; Openda, Sesko
We say: Sturm Graz 0-2 RB Leipzig
With only pride to play for and nothing tangible on the line for both teams, we could see a care-free approach from Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig.
Should such attitudes lead to an attacking affair, we expect Die Roten Bullen to come out on top, given their superior quality in midfield forward areas.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
