Sporting Lisbon vs Sturm Graz Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 14/12/2023, 06:22  by Kennedy Kechula in Europa League Predictions

Sturm Graz will be away to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday seeking to confirm third place in Group D of the Europa League. Sporting are second in the group and have already confirmed their place in the next round. The Portuguese heavyweights cannot finish higher than second and this means a playoff knockout tie for them. Sporting can tie leaders Atalanta on points but the Serie A side are ahead on the head-to-head rule. Ruben Amorim’s men have amassed eight points after five rounds of play. They defeated Sturm in the reverse fixture on matchday one and will be confident of replicating this here. The Lions were on the receiving end of a five-goal thriller last time out against Vitoria Guimaraes in the Primeira Liga. The loss weakened significantly their hold on top spot in the Portuguese topflight. Sporting have won their last six matches as hosts.

Sturm Graz need to win here if they are to be almost certain of continuing in Europe this season. Christian Ilzer’s men are tied on four points with bottom-placed Rakow Częstochowa who will host Atalanta also on Thursday. A slim +1 goal difference separates the two sides going into this final round of matches. Confirming third place for the Austrian side will see them transfer to the Conference League for the knockout playoffs. Die Schwoazn put to a halt a two-game run without victory by defeating Rheindorf Altach 1-0 in the Bundesliga. The win kept them on course in the Austrian title race. Sturm’s only victory in this group came in an away fixture.