Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig will be looking to end their dismal UEFA Champions League campaigns on a high when they clash at the Merkur Arena on Wednesday.
The five weeks of winter break did create a level of rustiness in Sturm Graz heading into Matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League, as they were thrashed 5-0 by Atalanta away from home, eliminating them from the competition ahead of the visit of RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Austrian outfit suffered their biggest defeat of the 2024/25 season, and that killed any mathematical possibility of making the playoffs.
The home side will be playing for pride in their final league-phase game as they take on RB Leipzig on home soil. This tie will also be a welcome return to their home ground, where they last tasted victory against Girona, which did boost their chances of making it to the playoffs. However, as things stand, Sturm Graz are out of the equation, although they will want to end the campaign on a high.
While not many would have expected Sturm Graz to make it to the playoffs when the Champions League league phase began, RB Leipzig would have been seen in a different vein altogether. The German giants are often into the knockout rounds of the competition, but not this time, courtesy of a disastrous league phase campaign.
Leipzig failed to win any of their first six games in the Champions League this season, and it took them until Matchday 7 to grab three points for the first time. Benjamin Sesko and Yussuf Poulsen scored either side of a solitary strike from Viktor Gyokeres, as the result did put a huge dent on Sporting CP’s ambitions to make it to the next round.
Leipzig manager Marco Rose has somehow survived the ordeal of a disastrous Champions League campaign and so far has managed to keep hold of his job. The only saving grace is his decent performances in the Bundesliga, where they are still in the race for a top-four finish. As their European dreams have come to an end, Die Roten Bullen will look to bow out in style and collect consecutive victories.
Team News & Tactics
Sturm Graz
Once again, some of the departures during the winter transfer window have depleted the Austrian side, as the manager will have to look for internal options to make up the deficiencies. In terms of injuries, centre-back Alexandar Borkovic has a cruciate ligament injury, which will sidelined for nearly a year.
Max Johnston is also set to be sidelined for a few weeks with a muscle complaint, while Martin Kern is also out of the squad for this one. Sturm Graz will continue to deploy their variation of the 4-4-2, with Jurgen Samuel using two midfielders each in the central and advanced zones.
Tochi Chukwuani and Jon Gorenc Stankovic are the central midfielders for this clash, with Malick Yalcouye and Otar Kiteishvili set to play in the advanced role. Sturm Graz will use Seedy Jatta and William Boving in the front two positions.
Probable Lineup (4-2-2-2): Scherpen; Malic, Aiwu, Wuthrich, Lavalee; Chukwuani, Stankovic; Yalcouye, Kiteishvili; Jatta, Boving
RB Leipzig
The away sideare missing a lot of players ahead of this trip to Austria, with Benjamin Henrichs, Xaver Schlager, Andre Silva, Kevin Kampl, and Assan Quedraogo all absent from the squad. Amadou Haidara might be the only change for Leipzig from their win over Sporting CP on Matchday 7.
The Malian midfielder will replace the injured Kampl in the middle of the park, while the rest of the players will retain their respective places. Willi Orban and El Chadaille Bitshiabu will keep their central defensive spots, with Lukas Klostermann and David Raum in the full-back roles.
Haidara will partner with Arthur Vermeeren in the central midfield pairing, while Xavi Simons and Antonio Nusa provide width. In-demand Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko will lead the line in a two-prone attacking setup alongside Lois Openda.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Nusa, Vermeeren, Haidara, Simons; Sesko, Openda
Key Stats
- Sturm Graz have lost six of their last seven Champions League games.
- Sturm Graz’s only win in this Champions League campaign has come at home.
- RB Leipzig are unbeaten in their last three games across all competitions.
- RB Leipzig have lost six of their last seven Champions League games this season.
- RB Leipzig have one win in their last eight away games across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Benjamin Sesko
Sesko has been in the news with his links to the Premier League despite being a strong part of the RB Leipzig side. However, this game, being a dead rubber of sorts, also presents a brilliant opportunity for the Slovenian striker to shine and assert the belief that he is a continental-level top forward.
A game like this one against his former rivals in Austria will be motivating enough for Sesko to take the limelight. While there is a clear message from Leipzig to keep hold of the forward this month, Sesko will be aware of the watchful eyes of clubs interested in him so as to put in a strong performance.
Prediction
Sturm Graz 0-3 RB Leipzig
Sturm Graz are struggling to get their bearings right in this UEFA Champions League campaign and will look to get out on a high note. However, they will face a big test against a side who themselves are eliminated from the competition and will come into this clash with the agenda to get a win.
Leipzig will trump in this contest purely based on their quality and fitness, as they have the required players to get a win under their belt. Die Roten Bullen are in the right vein of form for three points, and they are the likeliest team to bow out on a winning note. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Marco Rose and his charges.
