Brest welcome Sturm Graz to the Stade Francis-Le Bléin for a Champions League group stage clash on Thursday, 19 September. Read our Champions League predictions for the match below.
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Brest vs Sturm Graz prediction: Hosts to prevail?
Key Stats
- Brest won their last home game 4-0 against St. Etienne in Ligue 1.
- Sturm Graz have lost each of their last seven fixtures in the Champions League.
- Each of Sturm Graz’s last three competitive matches featured over 2.5 goals.
- Ludovic Ajorque scored on his home debut for Brest against St. Etienne.
Correct score prediction: Brest 2-1 Sturm Graz
Brest will play their first-ever Champions League home game on Thursday and the French outfit can harness the energy of the occasion to prevail. Brest have kept only one clean sheet in four outings this term however, so expect goals from both teams.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Sturm Graz priced as underdogs
- HOME: 17/20 (1.85) – 54.1%
- DRAW: 27/10 (3.70) – 27%
- AWAY: 16/5 (4.20) – 23.8%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Brest were beaten 3-1 at PSG at the weekend despite taking an early lead in Paris, though the 17/20 favourites should still be full of energy for the club’s first-ever Champions League fixture against Sturm Graz, and that could be enough to get them over the line on Thursday.
The visitors are already leading the Austrian Bundesliga after five games, though Sturm Graz have a poor record in the Champions League and they have been priced as 16/5 underdogs this week as a consequence. View more of our top football tips and Champions League analysis on our dedicated page.
Most recent H2Hs: Teams have never met before
Brest and Sturm Graz have never played each other before, making Thursday’s clash the teams’ first-ever encounter.
Brest preview: Trio missing for Brest
Romain Faivre, Bradley Locko and Pierre Lees-Melou are all out of action for Brest. Eric Roy's charges were beaten by Ligue 1 champions PSG at the weekend, though they won their last home game 4-0 against St. Etienne.
Predicted lineup: Bizot (GK), Lala, Chardonnet, Le Cardinal, Haidara, Camara, Fernandes, Magnetti, Del Castillo, Sima, Ajorque
UEFA Champions League 01/10/24
W
FC Salzburg
0
Brest
4
France Ligue 1 27/09/24
L
Auxerre
3
Brest
0
France Ligue 1 22/09/24
W
Toulouse
0
Brest
2
UEFA Champions League 19/09/24
W
SK Sturm Graz
1
Brest
2
France Ligue 1 14/09/24
L
PSG
3
Brest
1
Sturm Graz preview: Two possible absentees
Sturm Graz could be without the services of Manprit Sarkaria and Alexandar Borkovic on Thursday. Sturm Graz came from two goals down to beat WSG Tirol 4-2 in their last assignment, though that fixture was on August 31st.
Predicted lineup: Scherpen (GK), Gazibegovic, Lavalee, Aiwu, Johnston, Gorenc Stankovic, Kiteishvili, Horvat, Boving, Zvonarek, Biereth
UEFA Champions League 02/10/24
L
Club Brugge
1
SK Sturm Graz
0
Austria Bundesliga 28/09/24
W
FC Blau Weiss Linz
1
SK Sturm Graz
2
Austria Bundesliga 25/09/24
D
FK Austria Vienna
2
SK Sturm Graz
2
Austria Bundesliga 22/09/24
L
Wolfsberger AC
3
SK Sturm Graz
0
UEFA Champions League 19/09/24
L
Brest
2
SK Sturm Graz
1
Player to watch – Romain Del Castillo
Romain Del Castillo was a key member of the Brest team that secured Champions League qualification last season, chipping in with 16 goal involvements (8G&8A) in 30 Ligue 1 appearances for his club.
Del Castillo can excel in the Champions League
Del Castillo managed to score in each of his last two appearances for Brest and the 28-year-old winger should be able to tackle his first Champions League assignment against Sturm Graz with plenty of confidence as a result.
