Sturm Graz are in Champions League action this week and hoping to make home advantage count. Our Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge prediction and Champions League betting tips consider which team will grab the points.
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Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge prediction: Hosts to triumph in high-scoring game
Key stats
- Our Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge betting tips take into account that the Austrian champions have won six of their last eight home fixtures in all competitions.
- Brugge have lost 45% of their matches so far this season.
- They’ve kept a clean sheet in only one of their five away Belgian Pro League games this term.
Correct score prediction: Sturm Graz 3-2 Club Brugge
This game features two of the least fancied teams in the league phase of the Champions League. The format is such, that both really have to go for this and target three points with tougher games to come.
Both sides have their defensive flaws, but there’s perhaps greater concern about Club Brugge who have been poor so far this term, losing more games than they’ve won in all competitions. With home advantage, Sturm Graz could edge this.
Pre-game odds and win probability: No clear favourite at the Merkur Arena
- HOME: 8/5 (2.60) – 38.5%
- DRAW: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
- AWAY: 8/5 (2.60) – 38.5%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
There isn’t a clear favourite here according to the Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge odds with an implied probability of 38.5% for a home win and an away win.
Sturm Graz come into this match after winning 2-1 away to FC Blau-Weiss Linz in the Austrian Bundesliga with Otar Kiteishvili scoring the winner.
As for Club Brugge, they were last in action on Friday, drawing 1-1 away to Charleroi with Hans Vanaken netting a late leveller.
For more of the best picks, today’s free football betting tips look at the upcoming action in Europe and beyond.
Most recent H2Hs: Clubs set for first meeting
Our Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge prediction suggests there’ll be plenty of goals in what is the first ever competitive meeting.
Brugge do have recent memories of facing Austrian opposition though. They lost 5-2 on aggregate against RB Salzburg in a 2018/19 Europa League tie, but beat LASK 3-1 over two legs to reach the Champions League group stage the following season.
Sturm Graz preview: Lavalee suspended for the hosts
There’ll be no Dimitri Lavalee for the home team as a result of his red card in the 2-1 defeat at Brest on matchday one. Gregory Wuthrich is also out injured.
Predicted Lineup: Scherpen (GK), Johnston, Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Gazibegovic, Horvat, Stankovic, Yalcouye, Kiteishvili, Yardimci & 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
Club Brugge preview: Meijer likely to miss out
Young full-back Bjorn Meijer is expected to be the only injury absentee for the away team who could be unchanged from their league game last week.
Predicted Lineup: Mignolet (GK), De Cuyper, Mechele, Ordonez, Seys, Onyedika, Vetlesen, Tzolis, Vanaken, Olsen & Nilsson
UEFA Champions League 02/10/24 W SK Sturm Graz 0 Club Brugge 1 Belgium First Division A 27/09/24 D Charleroi 1 Club Brugge 1 Belgium First Division A 22/09/24 L Gent 4 Club Brugge 2 UEFA Champions League 18/09/24 L Borussia Dortmund 3 Club Brugge 0 Belgium First Division A 14/09/24 W KV Kortrijk 0 Club Brugge 3 
Player to watch – Hans Vanaken
One of the biggest attacking threats in this game is likely to be Hans Vanaken for the visitors. The 32-year-old has registered three goals and two assists in nine Pro League outings so far this term.
Vanaken’s attacking threat
Operating as an advanced midfielder, Vanaken averages 2.0 shots and 1.2 key passes per game this season in the Belgian Pro League.
