Sturm are bottom on goal difference following conceding a 6-0 defeat once morest Feyenoord in their previous international appearance. Compared to the performance in Rotterdam, Graz showed themselves to be significantly improved once morest Lazio. The guests were repeatedly embarrassed with successful pressing actions, and Sturm also posed a threat with set pieces – for example in the third minute. David Affengruber extended a free-kick from Tomi Horvat towards goal, Alessio Romagnoli saved in front of the line.
Sturm stayed on the trigger, Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel parried shots from William Böving (14′) and Jan Gorenc-Stankovic (22′) and was lucky that Horvat aimed well over the bar from a good position (18′). The Italians, who were practically at their best and supported by around 1,000 fans who had traveled with them, only recorded two dangerous actions before the break. In the 13th minute, Dante made a save from Luis Alberto, who was ready to score, and Sturm goalkeeper Jörg Siebenhandl punched his own post in the following corner.
In the second half, too, Sturm initially had the game under control, was stable on defense and repeatedly caused unrest around the Lazio penalty area on offense, with no compelling chance looking out. Towards the end, the home side lost their strength a bit, Lazio came up. Immobile failed from an acute angle at Siebenhandl (72nd) and was just offside when Lazio supposedly made it 1-0, as a VAR review showed.
At the latest when Gazibegovic was sent off with yellow-red (82nd), the game developed into a pure defensive battle from Graz’s point of view. Sturm saved himself over time, without allowing a top-class opponent. The “return leg” in Rome is already in a week.
