Girona FC
·28 November 2024
Girona FC
·28 November 2024
Girona wants to get three points that will allow them to get hooked in the fight for the round of 16. Míchel's men are clinging to the 16% chance of getting out of the group stage that mathematics gives them, and a win in Graz would be key to climb to six points and keep dreaming in the competition. They will face a Sturm Graz team that has failed to win any of its first four matches. The Austrians lost last matchday by the minimum at Borussia Dortmund, and at home they have been beaten by Brest and Sporting Lisbon, having scored only one goal in the first matchday and conceding six. Even so, in their league they are leaders with 32 points, and come into the match after thrashing the home team of the stadium where they play in the Champions League, Klagenfurt, 7-0. In domestic competition, on the other hand, they are the top scorers and one of the lowest conceders. The match will therefore not be played in Graz, but at the Whorthersee Stadion, where they play their European matches.
Sturm Graz is a dangerous team, even though they have a difficult history in the Champions League. Míchel has explained that they are a young and vertical team, with quality in the physical aspect and lethal with space to run. Biereth is the Austrian side's top threat, and has scored ten goals in the league. He is almost all of the team's scoring power, having also made five assists. He is followed by Kiteishvili with six goals, and Jatta, Boving and Grgic with three. Regular starting goalkeeper Scherpen will miss the game due to injury. On the Sturm Graz bench is Thomas Hosele, taking over from Jurgen Samuel, who was sacked just ten days ago.
Sergi Mora's boys have the opportunity to certify once and for all their qualification for the round of 32. They need a win, which would confirm their place in the competition without the need to wait for the results of the other teams, or a draw, which is conditional on the fact that the right combinations of results are achieved to make it official. After two wins and two draws, the group wants to continue to have a good feeling in Europe.