2024-03-13 14:54:26
With only faint hopes left, Sturm Graz set off for northern France. For OSC Lille, the second leg of the round of 16 of the Conference League on Thursday (from 8:50 p.m. live on Sky Sport Austria 2 – stream the game with the Sky to be.
Christian Ilzer and his team wanted an “outstanding game”. Then a “miracle” is still possible. To achieve this, the people of Graz need extraordinary moments in many respects.
After the unexpectedly clear first comparison with the fourth place in Ligue 1, Sturm’s chances might hardly be worse. “To talk regarding promotion following a 3-0 defeat is presumptuous. We want to sell ourselves as expensively as possible, the goal is a good result,” emphasized Ilzer before departure from Graz. Showing yourself from your best side is “the first step”.
Only one 3-0 win in Sturm’s European Cup history
Sturm Graz has only won 3-0 away from home in the history of the European Cup – once morest Mladost Podgorica in July 2017 in qualifying for the Europa League. Lille is a different caliber. The “Great Danes” around their star attacker Jonathan David are not only superior in terms of quality to Sturm, but are also considered strong at home in the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
The atmosphere at Lille is “extreme,” said Monaco’s Adi Hütter recently. Although the arena in the suburb of Villeneuve-d’Ascq, which has a capacity of almost 50,000 spectators, will probably only be half full on Thursday, this will do little to shake the French’s confidence. With a goal difference of 7:1, Lille won all three home games in the group phase of the Conference League in the fall.
“We have nothing to lose”
After all: Last Sunday, Lille was 2-0 down following 20 minutes in a 2-2 draw once morest Rennes. A scenario that Sturm is only too happy to imagine. “We want to play much better and then see what happens. Maybe a quick goal will be scored. We can take risks and have nothing to lose,” said captain Jon Gorenc Stankovic. The midfielder is playing with a face mask following breaking his nose. It’s not the first time for the Slovenian.
Jusuf Gazibegovic also wants to see the famous “other face”. “We have to have confidence in ourselves. “Everything is possible in football,” said the right-back. Motivation and strength are always present in international competition, noted Gazibegovic.
Sturm plans to have the best possible cast
Saving energy is not on the agenda for Ilzer. He announced that he would rely on his best team available. Of the regular staff, only Manprit Sarkaria was not on the plane following breaking his ankle in the first leg. Seedy Jatta was there once more. The Norwegian attacker overcame his torn syndesmotic ligament less than two months ago at an impressive pace. Tomi Horvat and Javier Serrano also reported fit following illnesses.
Acting instead of reacting is the motto for Sturm. Putting up a wall in front of your own box and relying solely on set pieces and counterattacks is not an option. For Ilzer, it is crucial that Lille does not get back into the flow of the game that caused Sturm in Graz serious problems. The word catching up was difficult for him to say. “It takes a great game to play,” Ilzer said once more. However, “If they offer something, we want to be ready.”
Lille probably without some regulars
Lille should spare permanent staff. Next Sunday David and Co. will be in action at Ligue 1 runners-up Stade Brest. Coach Paulo Fonseca gave little insight into the cards, but revealed that Italian veteran Vito Mannone (36) will keep the goal this time. Fonseca insisted not to underestimate the guests. “We have a big advantage, but if we don’t have the same attitude as in the first leg, it can be dangerous. We have to respect the opponent a lot, we know that they have qualities,” said the Portuguese.
Ilzer didn’t want to put too much pressure on the opponent’s positioning. Lille, as the top team in the French league, is not only qualitatively well-staffed in the first eleven, according to his message. Sturm can rely on around 600 fans who traveled with them, who made their way to the north of France by bus or by plane via Brussels. It takes less than two hours to get to Lille from Belgium’s capital by bus or train.
(APA) / Image: GEPA
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