Match Details
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Time: 20:00 GMT
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz Preview
On Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund will go head-to-head with Sturm Graz in a very critical Champions League match, with either side seeking to win. Guided by handler Nuri Sahin, Dortmund has to recover from the tough 5-2 loss in the Champions League against Real Madrid. The German giants lie 11th in the Champions League standings with six points from three matches, while Austrian champions Sturm Graz are lying in 32nd place without accumulated points.
Recent Form in Champions League and Bundesliga of Borussia Dortmund
Despite a defeat to Real Madrid in their recent outing, Borussia Dortmund has opened their Champions League campaign with two victories. On the domestic level, Nuri Sahin’s squad has come under critical examination, following an early elimination from the DFB-Pokal after losing to Wolfsburg 1-0. A recent 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig has somewhat revived the fortunes of confidence within the team camp, as Sahin praised the tenacity of his men despite the injuries laid upon them. The club finds itself currently fifth in the Bundesliga, tied on points with the fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Still, Dortmund’s home form stays incredible as they go nine in a row, winning at Signal Iduna Park. While they have lost four of their last six, Dortmund has bounced back on home soil and will be difficult to overcome.
Key Stats for Borussia Dortmund:
Wins at home: 9 in a row at Signal Iduna Park.
Standing in Champions League: 11th place with six points.
Bundesliga form: 16 points from 9 games, tied on the log for the final Champions League qualification spot.
Sturm Graz’s Champions League Challenges and Austrian Bundesliga Success
Sturm Graz has had a torrid time in the Champions League this season, losing three on the trot, including a 2-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon. However, Christian Ilzer’s team has been unstoppable domestically despite their Champions League misfortunes. They top the Austrian Bundesliga with 26 points from 12 matches of action, with the best offense that has scored 27 times this season and a good backline that has shipped only 14 goals.
But Sturm Graz has a very poor European away record, losing 10 of their 16 Champions League away games, and losing their last 10 in the competition.
Key Stats for Sturm Graz:
Champions League form: No points, 32nd place in standings
Austrian Bundesliga form: First with a three-point lead in the Austrian Bundesliga
Away record in Champions League: Lost 10 of last 16.
Team News and Predicted Lineups: Borussia Dortmund vs. Sturm Graz
Meanwhile, Dortmund will also be without some important players: goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, defenders Julian Ryerson, Yan Couto, Waldemar Anton, and Niklas Sule. In midfield, Marcel Sabitzer is still out until late November. Sahin may look to rest on a more defensive lineup of Pascal Gross, Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini, with Alexander Meyer in goal. Felix Nmecha will probably be called upon to support the Dortmund attack of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Cole Campbell, and Serhou Guirassy.
Sturm Graz also has some injures: Jon Gorenc-Stankovic – a midfielder out for the rest of the season, while Gregory Wuthrich and Alexandar Borkovic are two defenders not in position to play. Ilzer will most probably begin with Jusuf Gazibegovic, Emanuel Aiwu, Niklas Geyrhofer and Dimitri Lavalee in the back four, while Tomi Horvat and Tochi Chukwuani will feature in midfield.
Borussia Dortmund Predicted Lineup:
Meyer; Gross, Can, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Azhil, Nmecha, Brandt; Campbell, Guirassy, Bynoe-Gittens
Sturm Graz Predicted Lineup:
Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Lavalee; Yalcouye, Horvat, Chukwuani, Boving; Jatta, Biereth
Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Sturm Graz
Despite the injury problems that strike Dortmund currently, their strong home record might give them the advantage. Sturm Graz could take the initial lead, but it will be difficult to hold a lead against Dortmund in Signal Iduna Park.
Prediction Summary:
Final Score: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Sturm Graz
Winning Tip: Dortmund’s strong home advantage might prove decisive in overcoming Sturm Graz.
