Key game for Sturm Graz in the Europa League

Storm Graz is facing a key game in the Europa League: Austria’s runner-up will face Rakow Częstochowa in Sosnowiec on Thursday (6.45 p.m., ORF 1). The duels with the Polish champions are considered crucial in the race for a promotion place in Group D.

Before departing for Katowice, Christian Ilzer spoke of a “trend-setting” game. “The winner takes a big step in the group,” he said Storm-Trainer. “An opponent at eye level awaits us.” He was also impressed by the steep development of the Czestochowa team, who were still playing in the third division seven years ago. “The rise of this team is unparalleled in Europe. But we know what to expect,” said Ilzer.

Raków failed in the Champions League qualification in the final push against Copenhagen (1:2). The opening game in the Europa League in Bergamo was lost 2-0, Storm At the same time, Sporting lost 2-1 at home. Another defeat would be a major setback for both teams in the race for the first two promotion places. The third-placed team advances to the intermediate round of the Conference League.

Hierländer demands top performance

In the championship, the “Medaliki” (medallions) are in third place under the young coach Dawid Szwarga (32), who has been promoted to boss. A 1:4 defeat at Lech Poznan was recently repaired with a 3:0 against Radomiak. Stefan Hierländer demands a “top performance” from his team. “A very good opponent awaits us, they proved that impressively against Copenhagen,” said the Storm-Captain. “We’re going to Poland to take something countable with us.”

Manprit Sarkaria was on board the Avanti Air. According to his own description, the ÖFB team player is “fully fit” and is expected to be back at Szymon Wlodarczyk’s side after tearing a muscle fiber in his back thigh. Wlodarczyk wants to use the showcase at home after a goalless September. The 20-year-old has not yet scored against Rakow. On the left, Amadou Dante will defend because David Schnegg suffered a torn knee ligament during the dress rehearsal against Tirol (1-0).

Storm recently impressed with results, but less with wit or goal threat from the game. Ilzer: “Of course we can and must find better solutions in the final third and decide the games in advance with better coordination. We are working on that,” he emphasized, spoke of a “phase” and remarked: “21 points are not that bad.” According to the success coach, the ideas at the front line depend largely on the staff. “We lost Emegha. Mani (Note: Sarkaria) wasn’t fit for many rounds. Jatta, who has a lot of speed, retired after a few minutes in Lustenau. Wlodaczyk has a lot of potential, but needs time to reach a consistent level.”

Opponent failures

The upcoming opponent is not easy to classify in terms of personnel. “They have a large squad that allows for rotation.” In fact, Rakow’s scoring values, for example, are spread across many shoulders; the “nine” and six-time goalscorer Lukasz Zwolinski hasn’t scored for more than a month. The absence of creative spirit Ivi Lopez due to a torn cruciate ligament is considered a clear weakening. In defense, three central defenders have been missing for some time with injuries, including captain Zoran Arsenic and the Greek newcomer Stratos Svarnas.

Because the small home stadium in Czestochowa is not suitable for UEFA, the Poles have to move to Sosnowiec, an hour’s drive away. The scenery in the 11,600-fan stadium shouldn’t be bad, and the club offered transfer options for a symbolic zloty. Storm expected around 450 away fans at the first guest game in the club’s history in Poland against a Polish team. Last year, Graz played the away game against Dynamo Kiev in Lodz.