Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge Prediction: Visitors to show improvements

Sturm Graz entertain Club Brugge at the Merkur Arena on Wednesday (20:00, TNT Sports 9) in the Champions League, looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat against Brest in the first round of fixtures two weeks ago. The Austrian outfit managed just two efforts on target in that game, so they will need to be much better if they are to get the better of Belgian champions Club Brugge. 

The visitors were beaten 3-0 at home to Borussia Dortmund last time out, so they too will be looking for a response here. Club Brugge didn't deliver a poor performance as such, more of a wasteful one with the chances they created. Read on for my Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge prediction, featuring match odds and team news.

Sturm Graz vs Club Brugge Odds

Sturm Graz are 7/4 to come out victorious here, which gives them a theoretical chance of 36.4%. Club Brugge are priced at 8/5 to take the victory, giving them an implied probability of 38.5%. The draw can be backed at 5/2 (28.6%).

Both teams to score is available at 4/7, and this has been a winning selection in six of the hosts' last seven matches. Over 2.5 goals is marketed at 8/11.

Club Brugge's Andreas Skov Olsen has scored four goals in nine Jupiler Pro League appearances in 2024/25. He is valued at 12/5 to score anytime or 7/1 to open proceedings. His team-mates Hans Vanaken and Gustaf Nilsson both have three apiece and they are 7/2 and 21/10 respectively to score at any stage during this contest.

Football Odds

Team News 

Sturm Graz will be without the services of defender Dimitri Lavalee for this one, having been sent off in the defeat to Brest a fortnight ago. Arjan Malic could take his spot in the starting XI, and he could be joined by Emanuel Aiwu, Max Johnston and Jusuf Gazibegovic.

Gregory Wuthrich is expected to be out for a spell after suffering ligament damage. Defender Alexandar Borkovic has reappeared in training after a lengthy absence due to a cruciate ligament injury, but he is likely to be allowed to return to full fitness before being in contention to start matches again.

Midfielder Jon Gorenc Stankovic is a doubt to feature after he was taken off in the Swiss side's last match against Blau-Weiß Linz at the weekend. Tochi Chukwuani will be primed to take his place in the team if called upon.

For Club Brugge, left-back Bjorn Meijer is unavailable for selection, so Maxim De Cuyper looks to keep his place in the team, having been the starting full-back against Borussia Dortmund in the first Champions League fixture.

Boss Nicky Hayen may be reluctant to make too many changes to the side that played against the Black and Yellows because they did play well and only lacked a cutting edge in the final third. He could deploy Raphael Onyedika in deep midfield to support Vanaken and Hugo Vetlesen.

Club Brugge to win @ 8/5

It is fair to say Club Brugge's 3-0 defeat to Dortmund flattered to deceive. They registered 18 shots in that match but only five of them were on target. Similarly, the Bundesliga side had 17 efforts with six on target, but they made sure they were clinical.

That is something that the Belgian outfit have to show they have improved on for this clash because they don't want to have a huge mountain to climb in the league table this early on in the Champions League.

They certainly have the attacking quality to deliver the goods in front of goal as they have netted 15 in their opening nine domestic league matches. The Dortmund defeat will have only inspired them to keep going because they matched last season's finalists and were only let down by their composure in the final third.

I am expecting improvements in this department against Sturm Graz, who themselves need to improve in the final third. They only managed two shots on target against Brest and they will find this game very difficult, even with it being on home soil.

Club Brugge are well-seasoned when it comes to playing in Europe, and I think they have the quality to hand their Swiss hosts another important lesson at this level. For a team that were beaten 3-0, they will have plenty of confidence because they competed against a team that were one game away from being crowned the champions of Europe in June.

I think Club Brugge will make amends here so I am going for them to win this fixture.

Over 2.5 goals @ 8/11

I think we could be in for a few goals in this match. The visitors will be eager to overcompensate for their lack of goals last time out and they do have the firepower within their ranks to fire a few past Sturm Graz.

Also, despite only having two efforts on target in their defeat to Brest, the Swiss side still managed to find the back of the net, highlighting that they are indeed clinical with the chances they do receive.

Earlier on I also mentioned that both teams to score has been a winning selection in six of their last seven matches, so I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this trend continue on Wednesday. Plus, there is also the fact that Club Brugge conceded three goals against Dortmund, as well as the fact that they have also leaked 11 in the Jupiler Pro League.

They do have a lot of attacking talent but they are vulnerable at the back, which perhaps even Sturm Graz can exploit. I think there will be no issue with these two sides producing three goals in this contest so I am backing over 2.5 goals on Wednesday night.

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