Sturm Graz vs Brann Prediction: Visitors to clinch precious point

The final fixtures of the League Phase of the Europa League take place on Thursday and there is an important clash at Liebenauer Stadium in Austria, where Sturm Graz host Brann.

Graz's elimination from the competition has already been confirmed, as they are down in 31st place and four points off the play-offs, but Brann are sitting in 22nd position and know a point will be enough to advance. Below are my Sturm Graz vs Brann predictions, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

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Team News

Sturm Graz are without the services of Alexandar Borkovic and Dimitri Lavalee due to knee problems that could keep the pair out for the rest of the campaign.

Brann are still missing Saevar Magnusson, who has been out for over three months because of a knee injury, while Niklas Castro, Sakarias Opsahl and Jonas Torsvik are also absent.

Football Odds

Sturm Graz vs Brann Odds

Sturm Graz are 9/5 to pick up the win on home soil, with the draw priced at 13/5 and Brann 11/8 to claim the spoils.

Both teams to score in the first half and the second half has been price boosted from 9/1 to 11/1.

Draw @ 13/5

Sturm Graz are unlikely to be busting a gut in this clash given they have no chance of qualifying but head coach Jurgen Saumel will want to see some sort of a reaction from the 3-0 loss to Feyenoord last week.

Visitors Brann have a place in the play-offs in their grasp and they can achieve this by avoiding defeat in Austria, while a win could potentially take them into the seeded positions.

Today's Football Fixtures

A lot of results elsewhere would need to go their way for that to happen and it would also mean Freyr Alexandersson's men would have to adopt a more attacking approach against Graz, which could backfire.

A point is just fine for Brann and they grabbed a share of the spoils in last week's 3-3 draw against Midtjylland in dramatic fashion, scoring a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage-time.

Brann have drawn their last two games in Europe and they can make it three in a row when facing Graz, who held Nottingham Forest to a 0-0 in Austria in matchday four.

Under 2.5 goals @ 11/10

A cagey affair is expected given what is at stake for Brann and it would be no surprise to see scoring opportunities limited throughout the contest.

Two of Graz's three home matches in the Europa League have gone under the 2.5-goals mark, while Brann's last two away outings in this competition have seen fewer than three strikes.

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