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The UEFA Champions League returns with a fresh set of fixtures as Sturm Graz and Sporting Lisbon go head-to-head at the Wörthersee Stadion on Tuesday. The two sides have had contrasting starts to their campaigns.
Sturm maintained their one-point lead atop the Austrian Bundesliga standings on Saturday with a 5-2 home victory over Grazer AK. Head coach Christian Ilzer will hope that the dominant display at the weekend can serve as a catalyst for a turnaround in fortunes in the Champions League, where they have lost their opening two games.
Sturm kicked off their European quest with a 2-1 defeat to Stade Brestois before losing 1-0 to Belgian outfit Club Brugge.
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Sporting, meanwhile, needed a 94th-minute strike from 19-year-old striker Conrad Harder to s secure a 2-1 victory over Portimonense in the Taca de Portugal on Friday.
That followed a 2-0 victory over Casa Pia in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, where Ruben Amorim’s men boast a 100% record, winning eight games to sit three points clear at the top.
Sporting now turn their focus to the Champions League, where they have picked up four points, seeing off LOSC Lille 2-0 in the opening game before drawing 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven.
Sturm Graz vs Sporting Lisbon Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the third meeting between Sturm and Sporting, with the Portuguese powerhouss winning the previous two.
- The two sides met in Group D of the Europa League last season, with Sporting picking up a 2-1 victory in Austria before returning home to claim a comfortable 3-0 win.
- Sturm have won three of their last five matches across competitions,losing one, since September.
- Sporting have won all but one of their last 11 games across competitions, with the 1-1 draw with PSV on October 1 being the exception.
Sturm Graz vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction
While Sturm look to find their feet in the Champions League, they are in for another tough 90 minutes against a Sporting side firing on all cylinders. Given the gulf in quality and experience between the two teams, expect Amorim’s men to take all three points.
Prediction: Sturm 1-3 Sporting
Sturm Graz vs Sporting Lisbon Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Sporting to win
Tip 2: First to score - Sporting (The visitors have opened the scoring in nine of their last 10 matches across competitions.)
Tip 3: Over 4.5 cards - No (There have been fewer than five bookings in four of Sporting’s last five outings.)
