Celje are still searching for their first win in their debut campaign in the main draw of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), and their task gets no easier against a Sturm Graz side who are making Merkur-Arena a fortress.
Match News and Current Form
A 1-1 draw against Wolfsberger last weekend stretched Sturm’s winless run to three fixtures (D2, L1) and leaves them 11 points off the title pace in the Austrian Bundesliga. Their UEL league phase record has yielded balanced results (W1, D1, L1), with matchday three’s 1-0 win over Marseille giving them the chance to win back-to-back matches in major European competition for the first time since February 2024. Fabio Ingolitsch’s men carry plenty of confidence having lost only one of their last nine home matches this season (W5, D3), while they’ve also won seven of their last 11 European home games (D2, L2), conceding only four goals in the process.
Celje are similarly off the pace domestically despite a 4-0 win at the weekend, but travel to Austria with a five-game unbeaten run behind them (W2, D3). That sequence includes a 2-2 draw against Sturm’s compatriots Salzburg on matchday three which represented their first point of this league phase campaign (L2), so the Counts can ill-afford another defeat here. Picking up a maiden victory of this league phase looks unlikely for a side who’ve won only one of their last six competitive away games (D3, L2), while a 2-0 defeat at Leverkusen in this competition puts them at risk of failing to score in successive European road games for the first time since July 2012.
Head-to-Head History
This will be the first-ever H2H. Sturm won both of their prior matches against Slovenian sides, while Celje’s draw against Salzburg on matchday three was their first meeting with Austrian opposition.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Only two sides picked up more yellow cards than Sturm (9) across the first three UEL matchdays.
There have been under 1.5 goals in six of Sturm’s last seven home UEFA matches.
Celje have conceded 2+ goals in ten of their last 13 UEFA matches.
Celje are yet to score before half-time in the league phase this season.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Oumar Diakité scored a last-gasp equaliser for Sturm at the weekend, while each of his prior four came at home including the winner in a 1-0 victory over Marseille on matchday three. Svit Sešlar assisted Celje’s opener in their 2-2 UEL draw against Salzburg on matchday three, while five of his six scoring appearances this season saw him net their first goal of the match, though only two ended in victory (D2, L2).
Neither team look to have any new injury absences.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Sturm’s recent record at home makes under 2.5 goals a plausible outcome in this fixture.
Author: Sridhar Bhamidi