Europa League Preview: Sturm Graz Host Marseille in Crucial Bid for First League Phase Win
Austrian outfit Sturm Graz host Ligue 1 side Marseille at the Merkur Arena, with both teams searching for their first win in the UEFA Europa League phase. Having rebounded with comprehensive domestic victories over the weekend, both clubs now face high stakes to keep their continental knockout ambitions alive.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
Heading into matchday 3 of the revamped UEFA Europa League phase, both Sturm Graz and Marseille find themselves in perilous positions after failing to collect a single point from their opening two fixtures. Graz must capitalize on home advantage to prevent their campaign from unravelling early on. Meanwhile, Marseille, having suffered defeats against Beşiktaş and Olympiacos, are desperate to halt their continental slide and kick-start their push towards the knockout qualification places.
Recent Form
Sturm Graz have shown solid domestic form with 3 wins and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches across all competitions, losing only once at home this season and bouncing back with an emphatic league win at the weekend. Marseille's form has been volatile (2 wins, 3 losses in their last 5 games), without a single draw all season; while they produced a scintillating five-goal comeback against Angers in Ligue 1, their continental away record remains a major concern after four consecutive UEL away defeats.
Key Players & Injury News
For Sturm Graz, 17-year-old rising talent Luca Weinhandl is in red-hot form after contributing goals and assists in consecutive matches, while Emran Soglo, Gizo Mamageishvili, and Seedy Jatta face late fitness tests. Marseille will rely heavily on Himad Abdelli, who has found the net in back-to-back Ligue 1 away games, while influential midfield anchor Pierre-Emile Højbjerg remains a significant fitness doubt ahead of kickoff.