Sturm Graz vs Girona Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Austrian champions Sturm Graz have defended well but struggled for results this season and they now take on a Girona side looking for any sign of consistency in Austria this week.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 27th November, 2024: UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Sturm Graz Preview: Four defeats on the bounce

Last season, Sturm Graz toppled Red Bull Salzburg to win the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time. However, Christian Ilzer has departed the club over the November international break to take the job at Hoffenheim with Jurgen Saumel now in interim charge of the club.

They have started the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League season by conceding just six goals in four matches with four successive defeats. Their most recent outing did see them return from the break and hammer Austria Klagenfurt by seven goals to nil at the weekend.

Girona Preview: Finding some form

For a second successive summer transfer window, an entertaining and impressive Girona side, a part of the City Football Group, had to sell several key players and manager Michel had to did explain things would be very difficult in this campaign.

They have struggled for consistency so far this season with one win and three defeats in their opening four matches. However, they have pushed into the top-half of the table with a 4-1 demolition of Espanyol in a Catalan derby at the weekend.

Sturm Graz Team News: Couple of issues

Former Huddersfield Town defensive midfielder and Slovenia international Jan Gorenc Stankovic remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, whilst Amady Camara is also unavailable due to illness.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Lavalee; Chukwuani, Kiteishvili; Yalcouye, Jatta, Boving; Biereth

Unavailable: Stankovic (Injured), Camara (Illness)

Questionable:

Key Stats

Sturm Graz are without a win in their previous six UEFA competition matches against Spanish teams (D1 L5).
Sturm Graz have won only three of their last 17 UEFA competition matches (D2 L12).
Including qualifying, Sturm Graz have lost their last 11 UEFA Champions League matches.
Sturm Graz have lost their last six matches in the UEFA Champions League competition proper. Since a 2-1 win at Panathinaikos in the second group stage in February 2001.
Only one of Sturm Graz’s previous 28 matches in the UEFA Champions League competition proper finished without a goal being scored.
Sturm Graz have not scored a goal in their last three UEFA Champions League matches.
Girona are aiming for their first win away from home in UEFA competition. They have lost their previous two matches away from home in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League without scoring a goal.
Girona have won two of their last three competitive matches away from home.

Girona Team News: Still no Herrera

Girona have been dealing with something of an injury crisis throughout this season but the long injury list is a little shorter for this week with Yangel Herrera still missing due to a foot injury alongside attackers including Porto and Abel Ruiz.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Gazzaniga; Martinez, Lopez, Krejci, Blind; Romeu, Gutierrez; Asprilla, Van de Beek, Gil; Miovski

Unavailable: Herrera (Injured), Misehouy (Injured), Portu (Injured), Ruiz (Injured)

Questionable:

Sturm Graz vs Girona Prediction

Sturm Graz were ruthless against Austria Klagenfurt at the weekend and will believe they have been very unfortunate to have gone pointless in their opening four matches of the UEFA Champions League. However, four defeats is what it is and now, with an interim coach at the helm, they face a Girona side that, with a very different eleven, showed some encouraging signs at the weekend with a potentially entertaining away win the likeliest outcome for this one.

Sturm Graz vs Girona Tip: Girona to win & both teams to score