PSV Eindhoven vs Sturm Graz Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 06/08/2023, 13:33  by Sridhar | Modified on 06/08/2023 at 13:45 in Champions League Predictions

Looking to move closer to breaking their Champions League long-term absence, PSV Eindhoven and Sturm Graz face-off on Tuesday. This first leg match of the third-round qualifying will be played at the Philips Stadion. The winner of this two-legged tie will go on to face the winner of Rangers vs Servette in the play-off round. The loser will be transferred to the Europa League group stage. The hosts are hoping to make it to the group stages of this tournament for the first time since 2018-19. The Dutch powerhouses had a great season last year as they finished second behind Feyenoord in the league as well as landing a domestic double. They started this campaign under new boss Peter Bosz in positive fashion winning the Dutch Super Cup with a solitary goal enough to stop Feyenoord. It will be the European prize that Bosz will now set his sights on, as PSV have failed to reach the group stage since last doing so in 2018-19.

The Austrian visitors are looking for their first Champions League group stage experience since the 2000-01 campaign. Having finished as runners-up last season in the Austrian league, they would be keen to do better than last year in the European stage. Sturm Graz lost to Dynamo Kiev at this stage 3-1 last year. They started their domestic campaign with two straight wins – both coming via a clean sheet. That said, their continental form is anything but that. The visitors have lost their last five Champions League matches and have won just one of their previous nine matches in this competition. It is equally poor on the road with five defeats and two draws across seven away Champions League matches.