Sturm Graz host a Fenerbahçe side stacked with international pedigree in this crucial Champions League qualifier, but the Austrian outfit will be forced to field a heavily rotated lineup — eight regulars are missing from their usual XI. The Turkish visitors may have five…
Sturm Graz welcome Fenerbahçe to the Merkur Arena in Graz for the decisive second leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie on August 11, with the Austrian champions needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Istanbul.
First Leg Recap
Fenerbahçe seized control of the tie at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on August 5. Anderson Talisca opened the scoring before Mason Greenwood curled a left-footed finish from outside the box in first-half stoppage time, assisted by Marco Asensio. Sturm Graz mustered only one shot on target — a Jurgen Heil effort that Mert Günok saved — and the Turkish side’s defensive organisation stifled any genuine comeback attempt. The match also saw Jayden Oosterwolde limp off with a hamstring injury, leaving Fenerbahçe with a question mark at left-back for the return leg.
Team News and Injury Latest
Sturm Graz are severely depleted. Amady Camara remains sidelined with a thigh problem, while Luca Weinhandl, Otar Kiteishvili and Nelson Weiper all missed the Austrian Bundesliga opener and are ruled out. Forward Szymon Wlodarczyk boosted his starting prospects by scoring against WSG Tirol, and defender Jeyland Mitchell is expected to return to central defence after a weekend rest.
Fenerbahçe’s injury list is shorter but still significant. Oosterwolde is a doubt after his hamstring issue, meaning Archie Brown may deputise. Talisca and Nélson Semedo picked up minor knocks in the previous round but are likely to feature. Vedat Muriqi has resumed training after a muscle injury and could make his first competitive appearance for the club since July 2020. Greenwood, who netted the crucial second in the first leg, is pushing for a start, while N’Golo Kanté is available again after an extended post-World Cup break.
Sturm Graz’s Home Challenge
Sturm Graz enter the return fixture having drawn their league opener against Tirol, a result that hinted at the attacking limitations imposed by their injury crisis. To overturn the deficit, they must be far more adventurous than in Istanbul, where they failed to register a single shot on target in the second half. The return of Mitchell should stiffen a backline that will also be asked to build from deep, while Wlodarczyk’s physicality offers a route into Fenerbahçe’s box. The compact Merkur Arena, with a capacity just shy of 17,000, often generates a fervent atmosphere that could unsettle the visitors, but Sturm Graz will need to convert early pressure into a quick goal to keep the tie alive.
Key Battle: Jeyland Mitchell vs Mason Greenwood
Mitchell’s recall to the heart of the Sturm defence is timely. The centre-back will be tasked with containing Greenwood, whose sharpness was on full display when he drifted infield and bent a shot into the far corner in the first leg. Greenwood’s movement between the lines, combined with the creative supply from Asensio and İrfan Can Kahveci, poses the single biggest threat to Sturm’s hopes of a clean sheet. If Mitchell can disrupt that rhythm and prevent the young forward from finding shooting space, Sturm Graz at least give themselves a platform to build from.
Fenerbahçe’s Away Gameplan
İsmail Kartal’s side have shown they can control a tie with a lead. They conceded only one goal across two legs against Górnik Zabrze in the previous round and limited Sturm to a single effort in the first leg. Expect them to absorb early pressure, deny the hosts space in transition, and use the speed of Kerem Aktürkoğlu and the guile of Talisca on the counter. Fenerbahçe are unbeaten in eight home matches against Austrian opposition, but this away test is about the defensive steel of Milan Škriniar and Nathan Aké, who will need to handle the expected aerial bombardment.
The aggregate winner will advance to the Champions League play-off round, leaving one more tie between them and the lucrative league phase. For Sturm Graz, a fast start is non-negotiable; for Fenerbahçe, one more clean sheet would seal a return to the competition’s main draw after a long absence.
Player RatingsPerformance rating out of 10 from the match data feed, covering every action a player took. The 5 best-rated from each side are shown; the star marks the highest rated on the pitch.
22. Ammar Helac41. Elias Lorenz5. Albert Vallci27. Luís Balbo30. Paul Koller15. Gizo Mamageishvili40. Julian Halwachs80. Ryan Fosso28. Jurgen Heil17. Szymon Włodarczyk26. Belmin Beganović44. Nelson Weiper
Fenerbahçe
Coach: Ismail Kartal
13. Tarık Çetin75. Kuzey Sapaz14. Yiğit Efe Demir18. Mert Müldür4. Çağlar Söyüncü7. Fred17. İrfan Can Kahveci70. Oğuz Aydın5. İsmail Yüksek19. Vedat Muriqi26. Sidiki Cherif
