Sporting CP will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run as they travel to Sturm Graz for a UEFA Champions League fixture on Tuesday. The Portuguese giants are looking very confident at the moment and should be too strong for their hosts, who continue to struggle in Europe.
Once again, Sturm Graz are struggling to translate their fine domestic showings into European competition. Christian Ilzer’s men head into Tuesday’s clash with three straight Bundesliga wins, including a 5-2 victory over Grazer AK last weekend.
Sturm Graz may be setting the pace in the Bundesliga but have lost their opening two matches in the Champions League. Defeats to Brest and Sturm Graz are part of a 10-match winless run in the competition for the Austrians, stretching back to 2011.
In contrast to Sturm Graz’s struggles, Sporting CP are showing the right balance at the moment. They are unbeaten across all competitions since the extra-time defeat to Porto in the Portuguese Super Cup at the start of the season.
Sporting CP were held to a 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven last time out in the Champions League but have won five of their last fixture matches across all competitions. Ruben Amorim’s men have also kept three clean sheets in that run and will be targeting a repeat on Tuesday.
How the bookies view it: Sporting overwhelming favourites
Sporting Lisbon have been installed as overwhelming favourites and are priced at 1/3 by Betfred to claim the win. Sturm Graz are considered outsiders with a home win valued at 13/2 by Betfred, who is also offering odds of 4/1 for a draw.
Head to head: Sporting unbeaten
Sporting CP did the double over Sturm Graz during the 2023-24 Europa League, winning 2-1 in Austria before a 3-0 victory at home.
Players to watch: Red hot Gyokeres
Viktor Gyokeres continues to be the main man for Sporting CP and already has 12 goals across all competitions this season. The striker was on target in the two previous meetings with Sturm Graz and is priced at 5/6 by Betfred to maintain his scoring run.
Sporting CP have been decent at the back this season, keeping clean sheets in three of their last five away matches. They also earned a shutout in the previous meeting with Sturm Graz and could be set for a repeat at 23/20 by Betfred.
Probable line-ups
Sturm Graz are likely to stick with the team that won at the weekend, with Mika Biereth expected to lead the line once again. Seedyahmed Jatta and William Boving should provide support while Dimitri Lavalee is set to feature at the back.
Gyokeres was a second half substitute for Sporting CP at the weekend and could be handed a start on Tuesday. Conrad Harder and Trincao are also expected to feature in attack while Goncalo Inacio should retain his place in defence.
Sturm Graz: Scherpen, Aiwu, Lavalee, Gazibegovic, Geyrhofer, Chukwuani, Kiteishvili, Yalcouye, Boving, Jatta, Biereth
Sporting CP: Israel, Inacio, Zebast, Quaresma, Araujo, Hjulmand, Braganca, Catamo, Trincao, Harder, Gyokeres
Anything else catch the eye?
Given Sporting CP’s attacking quality, they could be backed to score in both halves at 10/11 with Betfred. Scoring in both halves means the Portuguese giants have a chance to win both halves at 15/8 with Betfred.
Sporting CP won to nil in their previous meeting with Sturm Graz and could be set for a similar outcome at 11/8 with Betfred.
This UEFA Champions League match between Sturm Graz and Sporting CP will be played on Oct 22, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Sturm Graz vs Sporting CP prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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