Preview: Sturm Graz vs Dynamo Kyiv – prediction, team news, rosters

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Sturm Graz and Dynamo Kyiv, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.

With everything still to play for after a close first game, Sturm Graz and Dynamo Kyiv will face off in Austria on Tuesday in the second leg of the Champions League third qualifying round.

The visitors head out with a slim lead after a 1-0 win in the first leg last week, having already overtaken Fenerbache in qualifying.


Match preview

After finishing second in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, Sturm Graz have progressed to the third round of Champions League play-offs, hoping to reach the group stage of Europe’s top competition for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign. .

They were drawn against DynamoKievwho traveled to Warsaw for the first leg last Wednesday and left with work to do as their opponents came out with a one-goal advantage.

Looking to bounce back from that loss and gain confidence ahead of the home game, Christian IlzerThe team faced Ried away from home in their third league game of the new season on Saturday, and Christopher Lang gave them an early lead with Die Schwoazn looking to claim a second successive victory in the top flight as their hosts were down to 10 men per hour.

Sturm Graz couldn’t see that result though, with Ried earning a 77th-minute penalty that Christophe Monschein converted to force a share of the loot.

Now unbeaten in three league games but disappointed with a disappointing draw last time out, Ilzer’s side will always know they have every chance of qualifying for the Champions League knockout round ahead of their home game and hopes to get off to a good start and overturn the deficit in Graz.

Following the suspension of the Ukrainian top flight, Dynamo Kyiv have played very little competitive football in recent months but, after a busy schedule of friendlies in June and July, they started qualifying with a second-round draw against Turkish giants Fenerbache.

The first leg in Poland ended in a draw and Bilo-syni looked set to progress with a 1-0 away win thanks to Vitaliy Buyalskyigoal in the 57th minute, only for Attila Szalai to force an extra period of time with an equalizer in the dying embers.

Mircea Lucescuthe side of would ultimately prevail, as Oleksandr Karavaev scored the only goal of the extra period to book his team a place in the third qualifying round.

Facing another challenge against Sturm Graz, the Ukrainian side traveled to Poland again after a friendly loss to Everton, and they took the lead through Karavayev in the first half.

As it’s the only goal of the first leg, Dynamo Kyiv are, at least, able to make the trip with a slim lead to defend, but, knowing their job is far from done, Lucescu will be desperate to see a another positive performance from his side on Wednesday.

Sturm Graz Champions League form:

Sturm Graz form (all competitions):

Dynamo Kyiv Champions League form:

Dynamo kyiv form (all competitions):


Team News

The Sturm Graz line will be led by 19-year-old Rasmus Hojlund, who has had an impressive start to the season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in four domestic games so far.

He will be joined again by Manprit Sarkaria, who started his own season with a brace and two assists in their resounding cup victory against SC Rothis.

Elsewhere, Gregory Wuthrich and David Affengruber should continue to link up at the heart of a full-back four, with Ilzer not really needing to make any wholesale changes at this stage.

Dynamo Kyiv are also unlikely to make many changes, given the lack of league and cup football the team has been able to tour in recent months.

In their last two qualifying games, the attack has been led by Artem Besedinewho scored 35 goals and registered 12 assists in 125 appearances for the Ukrainian giants.

Oleksandr Karavaev is also expected to continue to operate in attack, having scored the only goal of the first leg from the right wing, while the captain Sergiy Sydorchuk will anchor the midfield again.

Possible starting line-up for Sturm Graz:
Siebenhand; Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wuthrich, Dante; Stankovic; Hierlander, Prass; Horvat Hojlund, Sarkaria

Possible starting line-up of Dynamo Kyiv:
Bushchan; Kedziora, Zabarnyi, Popov, Dubichak; Sydorchuk; Karavaev, Shepelev, Shaparenko, Buyalskyi; Bésedine


We say: Sturm Graz 1-1 Dynamo Kyiv (Dynamo Kyiv win 2-1 on aggregate)

This game could definitely go either way, and Sturm Graz should do everything they can to equalize and win at home, but we think the Ukrainian side have enough to hold their opponents and maintain an overall lead.

For a data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.


Trick

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this game. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their proven football tips.More than 1.5: data


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