Sturm Graz vs Marseille: One Point Separates Two Stumbling Sides

One point between two struggling sides

Sturm Graz and Marseille go into this Thursday fixture separated by almost nothing. Sturm sit 26th in the 36-team league stage table with one point from two games, while Marseille are 32nd with none. Neither side has built any real rhythm yet, which makes this a match where a single result could open a decisive gap.

Form that points both ways

Sturm have a draw and a defeat to their name, scoring no goals so far while conceding three. Their only home result is a draw, and they have kept one clean sheet. Marseille have lost both games, scoring once and conceding five, and they have yet to pick up a point on the road.

Sturm’s long injury list

Sturm are missing a significant group of players. Nikolas Geyrhofer and Sebastian Wlodarczyk are unavailable, Lukas Grgic is sidelined with a knee problem, and Stefan Jatta, Oliver Kiteishvili, Gio Mamageishvili, Fabio Rozga, Emmanuel Soglo and Niklas Weiper are all absent through a range of injuries. Marseille will be without Dario Cornelius because of a hip injury, while Pierre Hojbjerg is a doubt with a muscle problem.

Our prediction

Sturm have the edge of playing at home, and they have shown more resistance defensively, with a clean sheet to their name against Marseille’s five conceded goals. PreviaXI’s model also favours the Austrian side. We expect a tight, cautious match in which Sturm’s home advantage and defensive discipline should be enough to take the three points.

Sturm Graz 1-0 Marseille