Sturm vs Celje prediction: team news, lineups, expert analysis
In the fourth round of the Europa League league phase, Sturm will face Celje on November 5, 2026. This is the kind of opponent the hosts need to beat.
Sturm vs Celje team news and expert analysis
The Graz club were champions of Austria in 2024 and 2025, but surrendered top spot to LASK in the spring. They are now trailing not only the current leaders, Rapid Vienna, but are also trying to secure a place in the Bundesliga top three — with mixed results so far. Celje became champions for the third time since 2020 in the spring. However, they have now slipped into mid-table, winning only around a third of their matches.
In the Champions League this summer, the Austrians comfortably got past Hearts, beating them twice. But they then bowed out to Fenerbahce, losing 0-2 and 0-1. Their scoring struggles continued in the Europa League, where they drew 0-0 with Rennes and lost 0-3 in Bournemouth. In the most recent round against Marseille, however, they kept a clean sheet and scored the only goal themselves, securing an important 1-0 victory.
The Slovenians also began their campaign in Europe's premier club competition. Once again, they failed to qualify: after eliminating Egnatia and Ararat-Armenia, they were edged out by Slovan Bratislava, who scored one more goal across the tie — 1-1 and 1-2. They also began the current tournament with defeats, losing 0-2 to Bayer and 0-3 to Omonia. Against Red Bull Salzburg, they at least managed to claim a point with a 2-2 draw.
Previous meetings: Sturm vs Celje
The representatives of these neighboring countries have regularly played friendly matches. Their first meeting in 2015 ended in a draw, after which the current hosts won three times in a row.
The hosts understand that they need to take maximum points here. We are backing them with a "-1 goal" handicap (odds – 1.85).
Sturm vs Celje: key statistics and trends
- Sturm have lost three of their last five European matches
- Celje have won one of their last nine European matches
- Celje score an average of 1.38 goals and concede 0.92 goals per match
- Both teams have scored in 46% of Celje's matches, while the average total is 2.31 goals per game
Sturm vs Celje: possible starting lineups
Sturm line up in a 1-5-3-2 formation (possible lineup): Hudyakov — Heil, Malić, Kuarshi, Petrović, Balbo — Matoshi, Gorenc Stanković, Hödl — Seidl, Beganović
Celje line up in a 1-4-4-2 formation (possible lineup): Leban — Beiger, Žužek, Tutiškinas, Avdili — Dukuly, Daniel, Zabukovnik, Tičić — Sešlar, Kramer
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