Austria’s runners-up SK Sturm Graz today (6.45 p.m., ORF 1) not only have to get ready for a hot dance against the top Italian football club Lazio Rome on the pitch. 1000 fans from Italy have announced themselves for the Europa League game in the Merkur Arena, which is sold out with almost 15,000 fans, 150 to 200 Tifosi are considered “problematic”. The safety precautions are enormous, and two water cannons provided from Vienna are also available if the worst comes to the worst. Storm coach Christian Ilzer wants to focus exclusively on the sport, the dress rehearsal with the 3-0 win at Austria was a success. “We need a top day to be able to take something with us,” the Styrian knows. Lazio recently celebrated three victories en suite in Serie A, goal difference 10:0.
The task for Austria, which is a guest in the Europa Conference League at 9 p.m. (ServusTV) in Spain, is also complex. To be more precise, in Valencia at FC Villarreal, who won the Europa League in 2021 and this spring eliminated FC Bayern on the way to the semi-finals of the Champions League. “There is no better opponent in this competition, but we will fight for our chance,” stressed Dominik Fitz, attacking player of the “Violet”.
Villarreal’s showpiece is defence. The bottom of the table has only conceded two goals in seven league rounds, only FC Barcelona (1) is better. Let’s see if Austria finds a way.
Source: Nachrichten
