Sturm Graz - AEK Larnaca Prediction, Picks and Tips
Sturm Graz and AEK Larnaca meet at UPC-Arena, in a match for this phase of the UEFA Europa League (3rd Qualifying Round). These two teams have never faced each other before, so this will be their first direct confrontation. In this match the home factor may be decisive, since AEK Larnaca presents considerable differences in their results at home and as a visitor.
The home team will make its debut in this edition of the UEFA Europa League with the intention of conquering a positive result, taking advantage of the home factor. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 9 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses as a visitor; against 9 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses at their stadium. The team comes to this match after a win away with Wacker Innsbruck by (2-3). In the last 10 home matches Sturm Graz has won 7 and lost 3. The team has conceded a goal in 7 of the last 10 matches, so their defense needs to improve, but their attack has scored regularity, as they scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. The Sturm Graz is a club that never managed to win a continental competition, having as best campaign the quarterfinals of the European League of 1976 and 1984 (in that season was still the European Cup), in addition to having beaten the Bundesliga ( Austrian Championship) three times throughout its history, being the most recent title conquered in 2010/11. Last season, the team finished the national championship in second place, far behind the first-placed and champion, Salzburg. In the last five games that Sturm Graz played in their stadium, in four scored goals. We believe that in this match Sturm Graz will again have conditions to score goals in his stadium or at least he will leave with a favorable score, that is, a quiet victory or a draw.
The visiting team reached this phase of the UEFA Europa League (3rd Qualifying Round) after having eliminated Dundalk, with a (4-0) win at home and a (0-0) away draw in the previous round. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses in away matches; against 13 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss at their stadium. In the last 10 away matches AEK Larnaca has won 3, tied 5 and lost 2. Their defense has been very strong, having only scored goals in 3 of the last 10 matches. AEK Larnaca is a club from Cyprus that never won the title of the Cyprus Division, but in three seasons was runner-up, even recently, in 2016/17. In addition, the club twice conquered the Cyprus Cup, the last time last season, in 2017/18. Last season the AEK Larnaca finished fourth in the regular season, automatically qualifying for the championship Round, which finished in fourth place again. In the second qualifying round of the Europa League in 2018/19 the AEK faced Dundalk: in the first game at the home of Dundalk the AEK guaranteed a 0x0 and then won at home by 4x0. But now, against the strong Sturm Graz, it will hardly get another 0x0.
Our recommendation tip for Sturm Graz - AEK Larnaca : Sturm Graz to win @ 1.72