Sturm Graz-Atalanta is a match valid for the third day of the group stage of the Europa League and is played on Thursday at 18:45: tv, predictions.
In the away match in Lisbon against Sporting CP, Atalanta secured a good slice of qualification to the round of 16, which only the first-place finishers in each group directly enter. Crucially, for Dea, securing first place – the duel is likely to be with the Portuguese – and avoiding second, which instead forces them to play two more matches in a dangerous playoff with one of the relegated from the Champions League.
The Bergamasks, the only ones still with full points, already have 3 more points than Sporting, beaten three weeks ago thanks to goals by two defenders, Scalvini and Ruggeri, both scoring in the first half (1-2). Late was the green-and-white response: Ruben Amorim’s men shortened the gap ten minutes from the end with a penalty shot by Swede Gyokeres. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team will now aim to consolidate the lead in the two challenges with the Austrians of Sturm Graz, momentarily paired with Sporting in the standings. Defeated in the opener by the Lusitanians, the Bianconeri got back on track thanks to their success in Poland against Rakow (0-1), pinned to last place in the standings.
Dea still on full points
Sturm, which had also performed well in the Lazio round last year, should not and cannot be underestimated: just take a look, after all, at its league performance. Christian Ilzer’s team, in fact, has four points more than Salzburg.
Wuthrich of Sturm Graz
No one in Austria has scored more points than Sturm Graz, which is first with merit on 27 points and still undefeated. Atalanta got off on the right foot again after the national team break, settling Genoa (2-0) without any major problems and archiving the knockout with Lazio two weeks earlier. A clear success that allowed the Dea to move closer to the Champions League zone, now only one point away. Gasperini in Graz will not overdo the turnover, fielding a similar lineup to the one in Lisbon: up front Lookman and Scamacca will play as a pair, with Pasalic behind them. Out Koopmeiners.
The Prediction
The prestigious victory in Portugal confirmed the European dimension of Atalanta, which should impose itself without problems on Sturm Graz as well. The Austrians are healthy but will struggle to contain an attack, that of Dea, which in the last three games has never scored less than two goals. We expect an eventful match in which even the Austrians could score at least one goal.
The probable lineups of Sturm Graz-Atalanta
- STURM GRAZ (4-3-1-2): Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wuthrich, Schnegg; Hierlander, Stankovic, Prass; Boving Vick; Horvat, Wlodarczyk.
- ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): Musso; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, de Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; Pasalic; Scamacca, Lookman.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2