Champions League, Tuesday, 22.10.2024 at 21:00
King class the fourth! Sturm Graz are looking forward to the Champions League adventure, knowing full well that they will probably have little to do with the knockout duels. Or… do I see my Sturm Graz Sporting Lisbon as having a good chance of scoring points?
After two narrow defeats in the opener, I don’t expect the Austrians to win on Tuesday. However, I think they will put up a tough fight, which is why I’m going for the double chance X2. I’m also going for under 3.5 goals.
Of course, I’ll tell you in detail why I’ve come to this combination bet. The visitors defend excellently and are virtually impossible to break down. In addition, the players naturally have much more CL experience.
The Sturm Graz Sporting Lisbon odds show no mercy for the hosts, with an average of 7.70 to 1.37 clearly on the side of the visitors. And yet: I don’t dare take the risk that would promise a handicap victory.
Instead, I’ll tell you bit by bit why I can imagine a close affair, perhaps even the first point for Graz. That would be something, even if it’s not quite enough to win in the end.
The bookmakers’ forecast
Our tax-free bookmakers don’t really believe that Sturm Graz can win on Tuesday. This is reflected in the fact that the odds jump to an average of 7.70.
Sporting Lisbon are of course old hands in the Champions League. With four points already collected, it’s no wonder that the odds for a three-pointer in Graz are only 1.37.
Who could live better with a draw? Since Sturm have lost twice by very narrow margins, I wouldn’t rule out splitting the points. In terms of odds, you would get an average of 4.80.
KI prediction Sturm Graz vs Sporting Lisbon: ChatGPT
When we start ChatGPT together, the odds of the betting providers naturally also play a very central role here. This results in three tip suggestions from the AI, which are associated with different levels of risk.
You can bet on a high risk if you see the hosts ahead. A win for Graz? Phew, that wouldn’t be my first choice. If you want to bet optimistically, you might prefer the double chance, which has odds of 3.10.
A little less risky is the bet that both teams will score a goal. The visitors’ defense is really strong and Graz have only scored once. For this reason, I’m not the biggest fan of this bet.
I could give my “okay” to the over 2.5 goals, the low-risk bet in the bag. I wouldn’t go too high, but with three Portuguese goals (or two with maybe one of the Austrians) I’d be in.
Analysis: Sturm Graz vs Sporting Lisbon
Is the Champions League again too big for Sturm Graz? I’m certainly not going out on a limb when I say that the Austrians are among the big outsiders this season.
Between 1998 and 2000, the club took part three times in a row, and now, after a long break, the time has come again. And in a new mode that involves eight preliminary round opponents:
Brest, Bruges, Sporting Lisbon, Dortmund, Girona, Lille, Atlanta Bergamo and RB Leipzig? Admittedly, there are more difficult constellations in which there are more tough opponents!
So you might think that Graz have a chance of progressing. They lost 2-1 to Brest in the opener and then just as narrowly 1-0 to Bruges a little later – two defeats in other words.
Quotation analysis
If I had to choose a result bet for this clash, I would go for a 2-1 win for the visitors. If you want to place this bet with Oddset, you can look forward to odds of 8.25.
At the same time, I can well imagine that the favorites will also need some time to find their feet in the match. Consequently, I have in mind under 1.5 goals after the first 45 minutes, which leads to odds of 1.57.
Viktor Gyökeres is the Portuguese side’s top striker. So if there’s anyone I particularly fancy to score, it’s him. If he nets on Tuesday, Bet365 will give you odds of 1.87.
Sturm Graz vs. Sporting Lisbon: A quick reunion
The team only managed three real shots on goal and, fittingly, the goal against Brest was scored by the opponent himself. Offensively, it is immediately apparent that the air is very thin.
At least in Europe, because things are going really well in attack in the domestic Bundesliga. It was only a few days ago that Graz celebrated a brilliant 5:0 against RB Salzburg! A flash in the pan? Certainly not.
Sturm followed up immediately and defeated Grazer Athletiksport Klub 5:2 in the derby. Another five goals, if that doesn’t give you a broad chest for the duel with Sporting Lisbon.
Viktor Gyökeres in focus
With nine goals this season, Mika Biereth is the most successful scorer, a corresponding goalscorer bet would bring odds of 4.75 at Bet365. The team should already know how to face Sporting Lisbon.
After all, it was only a year ago that the two clubs faced each other in the group stage of the Europa League. 2:1 and 3:0, both times the favorites secured three points.
The underdogs took the lead in the home game, but Lisbon turned the game around in the 76th and 84th minutes. Viktor Gyökeres was one of the two goalscorers, and he is keen to get back to winning ways.
Sporting know that we have the tougher opponents. Manchester City and FC Arsenal are in the pot, so it’s essential to score against the other rivals. We’ve already managed that once against Lille and Eindhoven.
First, the Whites won 2-0 against Lille and then shared the points in a 1-1 draw. The fact that Sporting came through unbeaten here is not at all surprising when you look at the Primeira Division.
Eight matchdays, eight wins, six clean sheets in the last six games and 17 goals, always at least two? You can’t lead a league more confidently than that! They also had everything under control against Porto in a 2-0 win
The fact that the Portuguese have only made it through the preliminary round of the Champions League twice in their history does not exactly make fans expect them to finish in the top eight.
Nevertheless, the kickers naturally have much more experience than the Graz side. From a personnel point of view, it should be mentioned that Eduardo Quaresma and Ousmane Diomande are both injured and their appearances are in doubt.
My Sturm Graz Sporting Lisbon tip:
From an Austrian point of view, fingers are of course crossed for Sturm Graz. The home side are the clear underdogs, having already lost twice to Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League last year.
The visitors are of course much stronger individually and know exactly how to beat Graz. Both in attack and defense, everything fits, they hardly concede any goals.
Since Graz only lost very narrowly against both Brest and Bruges, I decide to take a rather small risk. And that’s why my final tip is:
Sporting scores under 3.5 goals!
