Sturm Graz v Rangers match preview
Reigning Austrian champions Sturm Graz warmed up for his or her residence sport in opposition to Rangers in nerve-shredding fashion on Sunday, profitable a derby in opposition to guests Hartberg 1-0 via Dominic Vincze’s Ninety fifth-minute own-goal.
The outcome places Jurgen Saumel’s workforce two factors behind leaders Speedy Vienna with a sport in hand, and their focus is now on incomes their first Europa League factors following a 2-0 defeat at Midtjylland of their opener on September 24.
“They’re a really, very robust workforce individually – particularly on the wings,” left-back Emir Karic stated of Rangers, who misplaced 1-0 at residence to Genk on Matchday 1.
“Now we have a plan and no-one wants to fret about us getting into unprepared. [The Merkur Arena] is all the time an actual cauldron.”
Rangers supervisor Russell Martin stays underneath appreciable stress however earned his first Scottish Premiership win on the sixth try with a 2-1 victory at Livingston on Sunday.
“It’s one other completely different problem, one other European evening and one other probability to have a superb evening collectively,” stated Martin.
“I’m trying ahead to it, particularly off the again of a superb feeling within the group after Sunday. [We] confirmed a whole lot of character, dug in collectively and confirmed a whole lot of spirit, a whole lot of battle and a willingness to run.
“That spirit has actually elevated during the last three or 4 weeks. We’re going to attempt to come [to Sturm] and switch the sport into one we would like.”
Sturm Graz v Rangers workforce information
Georgia worldwide Otar Kiteishvili has been again in coaching for Sturm Graz, having missed two video games as a result of the midfielder returned to his homeland for private causes.
Kiteishvili has been the Austrian Bundesliga participant of the season for the final two campaigns and has 5 targets and one help in eight membership appearances in 2025/26.
Goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov (wrist), winger Axel Kayombo (ankle) and centre-back Arjan Malic (calf) are out injured, whereas defenders Kristjan Bendra and Aleksandar Borkovic are ineligible.
Proper-back Dujon Sterling is but to return for Rangers from an Achilles damage sustained in April and midfielder Mohamed Diomande is suspended.
Sturm Graz v Rangers predicted line-ups
Sturm Graz beginning XI: Oliver Christensen, Tim Oermann, Emanuel Aiwu, Dimitri Lavalee, Emir Karic, Jacob Peter Hodl, Jon Gorenc Stankovic, Tomi Horvat, Tochi Chukwuani, Seedy Jatta, Otar Kiteishvili
Rangers beginning XI: Jack Butland, James Tavernier, John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Jayden Meghoma, Oliver Antman, Mikey Moore, Nicolas Raskin, Thelo Aasgaard, Djeidi Gassama, Youssef Chermiti
The best way to watch Sturm v Rangers: TV channel, on-line dwell streams
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) on Thursday and is being proven dwell within the UK on TNT Sports activities 2.
TNT Sports activities prices £29.99 a month via discovery+, which incorporates Eurosport and leisure and is on the market on an unlimited vary of gadgets together with sensible TVs and gaming consoles.
