Sporting Lisbon, who reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season, kick off this year’s campaign with an away match in Austria against Sturm Graz. Sporting managed to eliminate Arsenal in the knockout stage before falling short against Juventus in the quarter-finals.
Sporting Lisbon is beginning their European campaign after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Primeira Liga, missing out on the Champions League. Braga claimed the final Champions League spot, leaving Sporting with a place in the Europa League. Under Ruben Amorim’s leadership, Sporting has made a strong start to the season, currently sharing the league’s top spot with Porto and surprise leaders Boavista. The upcoming league fixtures against Rio Ave, Farense, and Arouca align with their early Europa League matches, allowing Amorim to prioritize both competitions. Sporting aims to improve on their recent Europa League performance, with their best showing being the quarter-finals over a decade ago. Despite the competition’s quality, Amorim is optimistic about Sporting’s chances, especially after defeating Arsenal last season.
Sturm Graz, Sporting’s upcoming Europa League opponent, has had a strong start to their domestic season. A red card to David Schnegg during a home match against Austria Klagenfurt resulted in a 0-0 draw, preventing them from leading the Bundesliga. They currently trail the dominant Red Bull Salzburg by two points after seven games, with five wins, including victories over LASK Linz and Austria Vienna. Their impressive 2-2 draw against Salzburg is a highlight, considering Salzburg’s strong European presence. While Sturm Graz’s recent 7-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League playoff raises concerns, a competitive performance against Sporting could help them advance in the challenging Europa League group.
Probable lineups
Sturm Graz probable starting lineup: Scherpen, Gazibegovic, Wuthrich, Gorenc-Stankovic, Schnegg, Affengruber, Prass, Kiteishvili, Sarkaria, Wlodarczyk, Fuseini
Sporting Lisbon probable starting lineup: Adan, Diomande, Coates, Goncalo Inacio, Ivan Fresneda, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Nuno Santos, Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao
Form Guide
Sturm Graz
| Opponents | Score |
|---|---|
| Salzburg | 2-2 (D) |
| Lafnitz | 3-1 (W) |
| Altach | 2-1 (W) |
| BW Linz | 4-1 (W) |
| A. Lustenau | 1-0 (W) |
Sporting Lisbon
| Opponents | Score |
|---|---|
| Moreirense | 3-0 (W) |
| Braga | 1-1 (D) |
| Famalicao | 1-0 (W) |
| Casa Pia | 2-1 (W) |
| Vizela | 3-2 (W) |
Head to Head
The upcoming encounter between these two clubs is going to be their first ever head to head match.
Sturm Graz vs. Sporting Lisbon Live Schedule and Fixture
The UEFA Europa League match between Sturm Graz and Sporting Lisbon will take place at Merkur Arena on Friday at 12:30 am IST.
| Sturm Graz vs. Sporting Lisbon | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Date | September 22 |
| Venue | Merkur Arena |
| Kickoff time in Austria | 9:00 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in Portugal | 8:00 pm (Thursday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 12:30 am (Friday) |
Where to watch Sturm Graz vs. Sporting Lisbon?
Football fans in Austria can catch the live action via Sky Sport Austria 2, Sky Sport Austria 1, ORF TVthek, ORF eins while those in Greece can watch the match live via Sport TV Multiscreen, SIC, Sport TV1.
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