How will Sturm Graz bid farewell to the Champions League playoffs?
There are always surprises in soccer. However, we cannot imagine a comeback for the Styrians in the Sturm Graz vs. Bodö/Glimt tip, even with the best will in the world. The humiliation from the first match in Norway (0-5) has dug deep under the skin of the Schwoazn.
Jürgen Säumel and his team even postponed last weekend’s league game in anticipation of the second match. In the Sturm Graz vs. Bodö/Glimt prediction, the hosts are fully focused on bowing out of the Champions League playoffs with their heads held high.
However, Sturm did not gain any real advantage from the weekend off. The Scandinavian visitors also had no match scheduled. Instead, according to the Sturm Graz vs. Bodö/Glimt betting odds, Jürgen Säumel’s protégés are slight underdogs going into the second leg at the Wörthersee Stadium.
According to reports, the reigning Austrian champions will have to do without right-back Max Johnston in the second leg and also in the future. The 21-year-old is expected to move to the British Isles, where he will wear the Derby County jersey from now on.
The Sturm Graz vs. Bodö/Glimt odds lead us to bet on “Over 3.5 goals” in the game. Unlike in the first leg, we can imagine a more balanced distribution. We would be surprised to see a passive performance from the Yellow Horde – that would not be in line with the DNA that Kjetil Knutsen has established since taking office in 2018.
Sturm Graz – Bodö/Glimt Head-to-head comparison / H2H record
Apart from the first leg (5-0 win for Bodö/Glimt), there are no other official encounters between these two clubs on record. That gives us room to look at some other facts and figures. Kjetil Knutsen’s team is known for its attacking style of play and, since reaching the Europa League semi-finals last season, can no longer be ignored.
In their 16 Europa League appearances last season, Superlaget (the Superteam) scored 31 goals – an average of 1.93 goals per game. The matches were entertaining because conceding goals was accepted as a by-product of the team’s style of play (1.7 goals conceded per game). Nothing has changed in terms of approach, which is why high-scoring games are the rule rather than the exception.
Sturm Graz – Bodö/Glimt Tip
It took the Norwegian representatives 25 minutes to take a 3-0 lead in the first leg. Top striker Kasper Hogh lived up to his reputation and led the attack with an early goal in the seventh minute. If the Scandinavians can avoid a debacle in the second leg, they will qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
The yellow horde usually celebrates successes thanks to its determined offense. Bodö/Glimt has scored at least three goals in four of its six previous competitive games. Glimt has scored at least five goals in half of its last six appearances.
We do not expect Jürgen Säumel and his team to put in a similarly miserable performance as in the first leg. However, the Styrians’ defense has rarely been stable recently. Sturm conceded a total of eleven goals in their previous four games (including the friendly against Strasbourg Alsace).
Three of the four matches ended with the Schwoazn conceding “over 1.5 goals.” The hosts must be careful not to take too many risks in the second leg in their quest for revenge – otherwise, they could face another painful defeat.
