Sporting begins its participation in the Europa League, in Graz, Austria, against Sturm, in Group D, in which it will try to remain in first place, the only one that gives direct access to the round of 16.
At the Stadion Graz Liebenau, the Lions will face an opponent that has never made it past the pool phase of this competition and who, along with the Poles from Raków Czestochowa, have the least arguments to aspire to move forward.
Against Austrian clubs, Sporting has seven wins, six losses and two draws, with the balance on Austrian soil being unfavorable (two draws and five losses), and in Graz, the lions, second in the I League, are tied on points. With the leader Boavista, he will meet a team that is also going through a good phase, since it is second in the championship.
Sturm Graz XI: Scherpen, Stankovic, Wüthrich, Prass, Kiteishvili, Sarkaria, Boving, Gazibegovic, Hierländer, Affengruber, Dante.
Sporting XI: Adán, Diomande, Coates, Inácio, Geny Catamo, Daniel Bragança, Hjulmand, Matheus Reis, Trincão, Paulinho and Gyökeres
Sturm Graz substitutes: Maric, Obi, Johnston, Wlodarczyk, Teixeira, Horvat, Stücler, Lavalée. Schnegg, Fuseini, Geyrhofer, Grgic.
Sports substitutes: Israel, Diego Callai, Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, Edwards, Nuno Santos, Luís Neto, Essugo, Fresneda, Esgaio, Eduardo Quaresma and Rodrigo Ribeiro.
Source: TSF
