On Tuesday night, Sturm Graz and Sporting CP go head-to-head in the UEFA Champions League, and the odds are stacked against the Austrian hosts. Sturm Graz, who recently won their fourth Austrian Bundesliga title and are currently leading the division, have had a tough start in the Champions League, losing their first two matches to Brest and Club Brugge.
Sporting CP, under the leadership of Ruben Amorim, have been in stellar form. They have a 100% record in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, winning all eight of their domestic games, and have four points from their first two Champions League matches, including a 2-0 win over Lille and a draw against PSV Eindhoven.
The Portuguese side is expected to dominate, given their recent form and the head-to-head advantage. Sporting CP won both meetings between the two teams in the Europa League last season, with scores of 2-1 and 3-0.
Sturm Graz will be without key players like Jon Gorenc-Stankovic, Gregory Wuthrich, and possibly Arjan Malic due to injuries. Meanwhile, Sporting CP will miss defenders Ousmane Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, and Matheus Reis, as well as attackers Marcus Edwards and Pedro Goncalves due to injuries.
Predictions suggest that Sporting CP will likely take all three points, with many analysts forecasting a scoreline of 1-2 or 1-3 in favor of the Portuguese team. The match is also expected to be high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals predicted.
Despite their strong domestic form, Sturm Graz face an uphill battle against a more experienced and formidable opponent. The home side will need to be at their best to avoid another defeat in the Champions League.
