Sturm Graz
On Tuesday, 21 July, at 19:30 (BST), SK Sturm Graz will host Heart of Midlothian FC at the Merkur Arena in Graz. The teams will meet in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.
The visitors are back in qualifying for Europe's top club competition for the first time in 20 years. The hosts have more experience at this level, but both attacks come into the game in good shape — a low-scoring scenario looks the least likely outcome here.
SK Sturm Graz will try to take control of the ball straight away at home and pin the visitors back. There is a basis for that: Fabio Ingolitsch's side have lost only once in their last 20 matches. The loss of Amady Camara weakens the attack, but does not break it. Axel Kayombo has just settled a 120-minute friendly against Pogon Szczecin (1:0), scoring in the 117th minute, while Otar Kiteishvili has been included in the squad for the first official game. The hosts are capable of finding a goal.
Whether they keep a clean sheet at the other end is another question. Ingolitsch himself admitted that last season SK Sturm Graz dropped too many points at home because of draws. Add the context: for the Austrian side, this is their first official match of the summer, and summer friendlies do not always allow you to assess in advance whether a defence is ready for the pace of European competition.
Heart of Midlothian FC are not flying to Graz just to sit deep. In Wouter Vrancken's first official match, it is important to keep the tie alive before the return leg at Tynecastle Park, and the visitors have tools for a goal. Amadou Ba-Sy scored twice against Rayo Vallecano (2:1) and was then added to the squad for the meeting with SK Sturm Graz, while Claudio Braga, who scored 17 goals last season, remains up front.
Both teams to score looks more interesting than a straightforward home win: the visitors have already shown they can score against strong opposition, while the Austrian defence are playing their first official match of the season.
Gergo Bogar (Hungary)
Matches — 6 (international matches, 2024–2026);
Average fouls per match — 25;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) — 4.2;
Matches with red cards — 1 out of 6;
Matches with penalties — 1 out of 6.
|
Fabio Ingolitsch
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Daniil Khudyakov
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Albert Vallci
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Emran Gamal Marwan Soglo
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jeyland Yahir Mitchell Baltodano
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jacob Peter Hödl
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jon Gorenc Stankovič
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jürgen Heil
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luca Weinhandl
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Simon Seidl
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Seedyahmed Tijan Jatta
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Szymon Piotr Włodarczyk
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Ammar Helac
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Elias Lorenz
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arjan Malić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gabriel Haider
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Paul-Friedrich Koller
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Petar Petrović
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gizo Mamageishvili
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Otar Kiteishvili
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ryan Fosso
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Axel Flory Pierre Kayombo
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Belmin Beganović
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nelson Felix Patrick Weiper
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Wouter Vrancken
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Alexander Schwolow
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Christian Dahle Borchgrevink
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Harry Milne
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Jamie Daniel McCart
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Malachi Michael Fagan-Walcott
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Oisin Michael McEntee
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Blair Thomas Spittal
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Alexandros Kyziridis
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Calvin Darren Miller
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Cláudio Rafael Soares Braga
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Pierre Landry Kaboré
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Alexander Clark
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ryan William Fulton
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stephen Iain Kingsley
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Stuart John Findlay
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Thomas Renaud
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Tómas Bent Magnússon
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Jordi Altena
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amadou Ba-Sy
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Sabah Kerjota
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Severin Sabri Guendouz
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
James Thomas Wilson
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Sturm Graz
Brann
Feyenoord
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz
Crvena Zvezda
Panathinaikos
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz
Nottingham Forest
Celtic
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz
Rangers
Midtjylland
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz
Bodo Glimt
Bodo Glimt
Sturm Graz
Hearts
FC Petrocub
Copenhagen
Hearts
Cercle Brugge
Hearts
Hearts
Heidenheim
Hearts
Omonia
Dinamo Minsk
Hearts
Hearts
Viktoria Plzen
Viktoria Plzen
Hearts
PAOK
Hearts
Hearts
PAOK
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20:5 | 12 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid
|
|
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13:7 | 12 |
|
3
|
Arsenal
|
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8:3 | 10 |
|
4
|
Como
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 19:6 | 9 |
|
5
|
Barcelona
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14:6 | 9 |
|
6
|
Aston Villa
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12:6 | 9 |
|
7
|
Manchester City
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12:7 | 9 |
|
8
|
Liverpool
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 14:10 | 9 |
|
9
|
Brugge
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11:7 | 9 |
|
10
|
Sporting CP
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:4 | 9 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8:6 | 9 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 9 |
|
13
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12:5 | 8 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7:4 | 7 |
|
15
|
Inter Milan
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:6 | 6 |
|
16
|
LASK Linz
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10:9 | 6 |
|
17
|
Manchester United
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:8 | 6 |
|
18
|
Galatasaray
|
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8:9 | 6 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6:11 | 5 |
|
20
|
AS Roma
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10:8 | 4 |
|
21
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:4 | 4 |
|
22
|
Viking
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9:10 | 4 |
|
23
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:5 | 4 |
|
24
|
PSV
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:4 | 4 |
|
25
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4:9 | 4 |
|
26
|
Porto
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6:7 | 3 |
|
27
|
Napoli
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6:11 | 3 |
|
28
|
Villarreal
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8:14 | 3 |
|
29
|
AEK Athens
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:11 | 3 |
|
30
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5:11 | 3 |
|
31
|
FK Sabah
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:10 | 3 |
|
32
|
Feyenoord
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:11 | 3 |
|
33
|
Lens
|
|
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4:16 | 3 |
|
34
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5:9 | 1 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4:10 | 1 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1:17 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Como
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 6 |
|
4
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:1 | 6 |
|
5
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:1 | 6 |
|
6
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
7
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:3 | 6 |
|
9
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:2 | 6 |
|
10
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6:5 | 5 |
|
11
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
12
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
13
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:4 | 4 |
|
14
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1:0 | 4 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 3 |
|
17
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
18
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
19
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:6 | 3 |
|
21
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 3 |
|
23
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
24
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
25
|
Porto
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
26
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
27
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:7 | 3 |
|
28
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
29
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
30
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
31
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
32
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
33
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:11 | 0 |
|
34
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:5 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5:3 | 7 |
|
2
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:2 | 6 |
|
3
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7:5 | 6 |
|
4
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5:2 | 6 |
|
5
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 6 |
|
7
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5:3 | 4 |
|
8
|
Como
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11:4 | 3 |
|
9
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 | 3 |
|
10
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
11
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8:6 | 3 |
|
12
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
13
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
15
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
16
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
17
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
18
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
20
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3:4 | 1 |
|
21
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
22
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
23
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
24
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0:3 | 1 |
|
25
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
26
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
27
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
28
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
29
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:7 | 0 |
|
31
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 0 |
|
32
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
33
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:8 | 0 |
|
35
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:14 | 0 |
