Bournemouth v Sturm Graz: Preview, expected line-ups, stats and where to watch

Where to Watch Bournemouth v Sturm Graz: TV and online streams

Bournemouth versus Sturm Graz kicks off at 8pm BST on Thursday, October 15 at the Vitality Stadium.

The match is live on TNT Sports in the UK. In the US, it’s on Paramount+ at 3pm ET.

Preview for Bournemouth v Sturm Graz

The Vitality Stadium will host its first-ever European game on Thursday night, and Marco Rose could not have picked a better time for a change of scenery. Bournemouth welcome Sturm Graz to the south coast for matchday two of the Europa League needing a response after a chastening weekend.

Saturday’s 5-1 thrashing at Chelsea was as bad as it gets for Rose. Evanilson scored Bournemouth’s only goal, and the Cherries are now without a win in their first six Premier League games.

Europe has been the one bright spot. Bournemouth earned their place in the Europa League with a sixth-placed finish under Andoni Iraola last season, the first time in the club’s history they have qualified for Europe, and their debut on the continent was a memorable one. They won 2-1 away at Real Sociedad on matchday one, with Rayan among the scorers.

There’s also an Austrian connection for Rose. He won the Austrian title with RB Salzburg and took them to the Europa League semi-finals in 2018. That season’s Austrian Cup final was the one blemish, as Salzburg lost to Sturm Graz.

Sturm are the reigning Austrian runners-up and come into this one in good spirits. Fabio Ingolitsch’s side drew 0-0 at home to Rennes on matchday one, and they won 2-0 at Austria Vienna on Saturday despite a lengthy injury list. Oumar Diakité was the hero in Vienna, scoring twice on his first start for the club: he struck in first-half stoppage time and then won and converted a penalty.

The Austrians’ record on their travels in Europe is poor, though. Sturm have lost each of their last five away games in European competition and conceded 11 goals in the process.

Europa League Table

Team News for Bournemouth v Sturm Graz

Bournemouth’s injury problems are piling up. Alex Scott (thigh), Julian Araújo (thigh) and Eli Junior Kroupi (foot) are all expected to be out until November, while Justin Kluivert is also sidelined.

Amine Adli (calf) and Veljko Milosavljević (knee) face late fitness tests, but are more likely to return at the weekend. There is better news on David Brooks, who has been back in full training, and Lewis Cook could come into midfield after being an unused substitute at Stamford Bridge.

Sturm have an even longer list of absentees. Otar Kiteishvili, Gizo Mamageishvili, Leon Grgić, Filip Rózga, Seedy Jatta and Nelson Weiper are all expected to miss out, and Albert Vallci and Emran Soglo are also doubts. With options in attack running thin, Sturm have added Axel Kayombo to their Europa League squad.

Diakité is expected to keep his place up front after his match-winning display at the weekend.

Expected line-ups for Bournemouth v Sturm Graz

Bournemouth: Petrović; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Cook; Rayan, Brooks, Tavernier; Evanilson

Sturm Graz: Khudiakov; Malić, Quarshie, Koller, Balbo; Weinhandl, Gorenc Stanković; Heil, Matoshi, Seidl; Diakité

Stats for Bournemouth v Sturm Graz

• This is Bournemouth’s first-ever home game in European competition.
• Bournemouth won 2-1 at Real Sociedad on matchday one, while Sturm Graz drew 0-0 at home to Rennes.
• Sturm have lost their last five away games in European competition, conceding 11 goals.
• Sturm will play the Graz derby against GAK just three days after this game.
• This is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.

Prediction for Bournemouth v Sturm Graz

This is a great chance for Bournemouth to forget their domestic struggles and put on a show and we fancy them to do exactly that.

Bournemouth

3 – 0

Sturm Graz

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com