Sturm Graz
- Two top sides from the Austrian Bundesliga and the 2025 Norwegian Eliteserien face off in Graz this Thursday with the winner having a better chance of qualifying for the 2025-2026 UEFA Europa League knockout rounds.
- Sturm Graz will have the greater home support with the hosts still top of the domestic standings through the winter break, but Brann have more Europa League points than the hosts coming into this final matchday game.
- Fabio Ingolitsch has a decent squad to work with and the team have been solid at home in the league, but they’ve lost their last two competitive Europa League games.
Brann
- Brann have more points than Sturm Graz in the Europa League league phase with one match to go.
- Freyr Alexandersson has made Brann a disciplined, compact team since taking over in 2025 and they play a high-intensity 4-3-3 that can stretch the field with wide overloads and control possession.
Key Players
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Brann:
- Tomi Horvat is their most creative midfielder and one of their top Europa League scorers, and his delivery from set pieces is also needed to provide goals.
- Otar Kiteishvili brings the quality and experience that will be needed on Thursday and has been important in transition, driving upfield and creating chances for his teammates.
- Jacob Lungi Sørensen and Emil Kornvig are the anchors and metronome in midfield, setting the tempo and maintaining compactness for ball progression.
- Sævar Atli Magnússon has been their most reliable goal-scorer in the Europa League and is always a threat, while Bård Finne’s ability to get on the end of chances and his finishing ability will be a threat, particularly on the counter and in the box from set plays.
Betting Insights
The odds of 2.3 on Brann are about right, but there’s too much confidence in the bookmaker odds of 2.86 for Sturm Graz who have taken only four points from the Europa League phase.
Prediction
Brann are the most likely to edge this and we’re taking them to hold the game in a draw, but with the Under 2.5 goals option at 2.15 , there will be a close game expected in Graz in cool, mild weather at Merkur Arena .