Borussia Dortmund will aim to get the better of Sturm Graz at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night.
Borussia Dortmund will look to recover from their recent UEFA Champions League disappointment when they welcome Austrian champions Sturm Graz to Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday. Nuri Sahin’s side is under pressure after a series of inconsistent performances, but a recent domestic win against RB Leipzig may provide a much-needed boost.
Dortmund’s Champions League campaign has been turbulent, highlighted by a 5-2 defeat to Real Madrid. Despite taking a 2-0 lead, they could not contain Los Blancos’ comeback, a result that left them 11th in the Champions League standings with six points from three games.
The pressure on Sahin intensified following a DFB-Pokal exit against Wolfsburg, where they lost 1-0. However, Dortmund rebounded with a 2-1 win over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, marking the first domestic loss for Leipzig this season. Sahin commended his squad’s resilience, especially given the team’s ongoing injury woes.
Currently fifth in the Bundesliga with 16 points, Dortmund are level with defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, vying for Champions League qualification. Despite a recent slump, with four losses in their last six games, they have a formidable home record, winning their last nine matches at Signal Iduna Park and losing just two of their last 20 home fixtures.
Sturm Graz have yet to secure a point in this season’s Champions League, sitting at the bottom of the table after a 2-0 loss to Sporting CP. While they managed 11 shots in that game, their inefficiency in front of goal was apparent, and their Champions League form has been disappointing overall. The Austrian outfit have now lost their last 10 Champions League games.
In domestic competitions, however, Christian Ilzer’s team has excelled. Leading the Austrian Bundesliga with 26 points from 12 matches, they have scored 27 goals and conceded 14, making them the league’s top-scoring side.
Despite their solid domestic form, their European track record on the road is bleak, with just two wins from their last 16 Champions League away games. In addition, they have failed to win any of their last nine such fixtures. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund are dealing with several injury issues heading into their UEFA Champions League clash with Sturm Graz. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is out until late November, leaving Alexander Meyer to start between the posts. Defenders Julian Ryerson, Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, and Niklas Süle are also unavailable, forcing head coach Nuri Sahin to make adjustments in his backline.
In attack, Giovanni Reyna, Julien Duranville, and Karim Adeyemi are sidelined, while midfielder Marcel Sabitzer won’t return until later this month. However, Kjell Watjen could be back in the squad soon.
In a probable 4-3-3 formation, Alexander Meyer is expected to start in goal, with Pascal Gross at right-back and Ramy Bensebaini at left-back. Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck are likely to form the central defensive partnership, providing stability and experience in the absence of key defenders.
In midfield, Ayman Azhil is expected to start on the right side of the central trio, with Felix Nmecha likely positioned as the holding midfielder, controlling play from deeper areas. Julian Brandt will take on a more advanced central role, acting as the primary creator for Dortmund’s attacks.
The front three will likely feature Cole Campbell on the right wing, Serhou Guirassy as the central striker, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on the left wing. This attacking trio will aim to break down Sturm Graz’s defence with their pace, skill, and creativity, with Guirassy expected to lead the line and capitalize on any scoring opportunities that arise.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meyer; Gross, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Azhil, Nmecha, Brandt; Campbell, Guirassy, Bynoe-Gittens
Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz will be missing a few key players for their Champions League encounter with Borussia Dortmund. Midfielder Jon Gorenc-Stankovic is out for the season due to a shoulder injury, while defenders Gregory Wuthrich and Alexandar Borkovic are also unavailable. These absences will force head coach Christian Ilzer to reshuffle his lineup, particularly in defence.
In a probable 4-4-2 setup, Kjell Scherpen is expected to start as the goalkeeper. The backline will likely consist of Jusuf Gazibegovic at right-back, with Emanuel Aiwu and Niklas Geyrhofer forming the central defensive pairing, while Dimitri Lavalee takes up the left-back position.
In the midfield, a double pivot of Tomi Horvat and Tochi Chukwuani will anchor the centre, providing defensive cover and facilitating transitions. Malick Yalcouye is expected to start on the right wing, with William Boving on the left, adding width to Sturm Graz’s play.
Up front, the strike partnership is likely to feature Bakery Jatta and Mika Biereth, who will aim to challenge Dortmund’s defence and capitalize on any counterattacking opportunities.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Lavalee; Yalcouye, Horvat, Chukwuani, Boving; Jatta, Biereth
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund and Sturm Graz have never faced each other in any European competition before.
- Dortmund won their first four European games against Austrian teams (including qualifiers) between 2003 and 2015, but they failed to beat RB Salzburg in the 2017-18 UEFA Europa League, recording one draw and one loss.
- Sturm Graz have never beaten a German team in European competition, with a record of one draw and five losses in six matches. Their last match against a German team was in 2005, where they lost 3-1 to Wolfsburg.
- Dortmund are unbeaten in their last 12 UEFA Champions League home matches, with eight wins and four draws, winning each of their last four. The only team to beat them at home in their last 19 group/league phase games was Ajax in November 2021.
- Sturm Graz have lost all three of their UEFA Champions League matches this season. The only other time they lost four in a row during the same campaign was in 1998-99.
Player to Watch
Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy’s strength and aerial prowess make him a constant threat to opposition defences, particularly in set-piece situations. His movement off the ball also allows him to find space between defenders, creating opportunities for himself and drawing defenders away to open up spaces for his teammates. Against Sturm Graz, who have struggled in the Champions League and lack experience in European competition, Guirassy’s ability to apply pressure and capitalize on defensive lapses could prove decisive.
With Dortmund aiming to regain momentum, Guirassy’s performance up front will be vital. If he can combine effectively with the creative players behind him, such as Julian Brandt and Cole Campbell, Guirassy could play a key role in securing a much-needed victory for Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Sturm Graz
Given Dortmund’s impressive home record and Sturm Graz’s struggles in the Champions League, the hosts are favoured to come out on top. Dortmund’s recent win over Leipzig has likely lifted their spirits, and their firepower at Signal Iduna Park could be too much for the Austrian side to handle. Dortmund’s attacking strength at home should secure a comfortable win, though Sturm Graz may manage to find the net through a counter-attack or set-piece.