Will Nelson Weiper return to the starting lineup?
Surrounded by nearly an entire team, Talisca kept his eyes on the ball last week. Three quick, short touches—then the ball was in the desired position. A powerful left-footed shot later, the ball was in the net. Thanks to an additional goal by Mason Greenwood, the Yellow Canaries head into the Sturm Graz vs. Fenerbahçe match with a two-goal lead.
In our Sturm Graz vs. Fenerbahçe prediction, we don’t expect the Turkish team to lose. Head coach Ismail Kartal’s squad was firmly in control during the first leg.
That may be due to the Blackies’ promising home record. At home, the Blackies have won six of their nine previous European matches. In our opinion, however, you’d be better off saving your free bet for other betting options.
A player bet is out of the question as our first choice—though we’re sticking with the direct goal bet. To get you in the mood, here are a few stats from the first leg: Fenerbahce had 71.12 percent possession, outshot their opponents 16–5, and clearly had the better chances with an expected goals ratio of 3.28–0.33.
We see the starting position—defending a two-goal lead—as a real advantage for the Yellow Canaries. Our pick is the Sturm Graz – Fenerbahçe odds of 1.80 for “Fenerbahçe Over 1.5 Goals.”
Sturm Graz – Fenerbahçe Head-to-Head Record
Three head-to-head matches are on the record. The Blackies are still waiting for their first win against Fenerbahçe. In 2017, both clubs participated in the Europa League qualifiers. The draw pitted Sturm Graz against Fenerbahçe in the third round—both times, the Yellow-Navy Blues avoided defeat (2–1, 1–1).
The Turkish team and its fans are eager to return to the Champions League. The Sari Kanaryalar last reached the Champions League group stage during the 2008–2009 season. A long wait is set to end on the Bosporus—the next step would be qualifying for the final qualifying round. There, the winner of the Sparta Prague vs. Lyon matchup would await them.
Sturm Graz – Fenerbahçe Prediction
The home team will leave no stone unturned in their attempt to overturn the 0–2 deficit from the first leg. Last weekend, new signing Nelson Weiper made a strong case for a spot in the starting lineup. Thanks to his two-goal performance, the Schwoazn celebrated their first win of the season in the Austrian Bundesliga.
But even with the towering forward, we see only a slim chance of a major comeback. The Turkish side’s status as favorites, combined with the first-leg result, presents a formidable challenge. Furthermore, Talisca and Mason Greenwood already showcased their quality last Wednesday.
Whether Fenerbahçe adopts a wait-and-see approach or seeks to control the game as they did in the first leg—the individual talent in the Yellow Canaries’ attack certainly gives reason to expect at least two goals for the visiting team. Our only question is whether Sturm Graz will be able to make for an exciting match.
