Lille vs Sturm Graz Match Analysis and Prediction

Lille vs Sturm Graz Match Analysis & Prediction

Lille

14/03/2024 11:00 pm

Sturm Graz

by Vincent

11 months ago 0 97

DISCLAIMER: All odds are quoted at time the prediction went live. Check the sports book for updated odds

Seeking to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time, Lille welcome Sturm Graz to Decathlon Arena in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.

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Lille hold a three-goal advantage following an impressive display in the first leg, meaning that Sturm Graz need to pull off a remarkable win in Northern France to progress into the last eight.

Lille all but punched their ticket for the quarter-finals of the Conference League last Thursday at Merkur Arena in Austria, beating Sturm Graz 3-0 through a Jonathan David brace and an effort from Kosovo international Edon Zhegrova in the closing 20 minutes.

Canadian marksman David has scored eight goals in his last five matches across all competitions for Lille, including a much-needed double in the crucial encounter with Rennes on Sunday.

Goals from Ludovic Blas and Arnaud Muinga allowed the visitors race into a two-goal lead after just 20 minutes at Decathlon Arena, but Lille were able to force a draw in the final 10 minutes as David breached the net of Steve Mandanda on two occasions.

Lille are unbeaten in all seven of their Conference League matches since the group stage kicked off in September and have been victorious in four straight European affairs at Decathlon Arena this season – scoring nine goals in the process – meaning that all signs points towards a comfortable Thursday night for Les Dogues.

After enjoying a seven-game unbeaten run between the start of February and the beginning of March, Sturm Graz have gone two matches without a win for the first time since November, losing the first leg against Lille last week before drawing at Hartberg in the Austrian Bundesliga on Sunday.

No matter the result on Thursday night, Sturm have already added to their humble European history in a positive manner this season.

The 2023-24 campaign represents just the second time Sturm have featured in springtime football on the continent this century, with the Austrian side playing in the second group stage of the Champions League back in 2001.

Lille vs. Sturm Graz Head to head

These two teams have only previously met once in the first leg of this tie, with Lille winning 3-0 away from home.

07/03/2024

Sturm Graz

0

Lille

3

Europa Conference League
14/03/2024

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14/03/2024

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14/03/2024

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14/03/2024

Lille

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Sturm Graz

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Europa Conference League

Lille Team News

With a crucial match against second-placed Brest scheduled for Sunday in Ligue 1, Lille could field a weaker side for the second leg, with the likes of Ayyoub Bouaddi and Remy Cabella candidates to start.

The hosts remain without the services of former Barcelona man Samuel Umtiti, with the World Cup winner still recovering from a knee injury sustained in early February.

Lille's Last 5 Matches

17/02/2024

Lille

3

Le Havre

0

Ligue 1
25/02/2024

Toulouse

3

Lille

1

Ligue 1
02/03/2024

Reims

0

Lille

1

Ligue 1
07/03/2024

Sturm Graz

0

Lille

3

Europa Conference League
10/03/2024

Lille

2

Rennes

2

Ligue 1

Sturm Graz Team News

Sturm Graz suffered a major injury blow in the defeat to Lille last week, with striker Manprit Sarkaria now sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a broken ankle.

The visitors are also unable to call on their first-choice goalkeeper for the rest of the season after Kjell Scherpen suffered a cruciate ligament injury in December.