Fenerbahce have kept back-to-back clean sheets in home Champions League qualifiers
Sturm Graz are without several key attacking players through injury
Recommended Bet: Under 0.5 Sturm Graz goals @ 49/50 with LiveScore Bet
Fenerbahce aim to take a significant step toward reaching the Champions League league phase for the first time since 2008‑09 when they face Strurm Graz at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Wednesday evening.
After another summer of heavy investment — headlined by the arrival of Mason Greenwood — expectations are high, but the Turkish giants were made to work hard by Gornik Zabrze in the previous round.
Ismail Kartal’s side edged the tie 2-1 on aggregate, with Anderson Talisca scoring in both legs to spare any potential blushes.
The Yellow Canaries will need to raise their level against a Sturm Graz side arriving in superb European form.
Sturm demolished Hearts 6‑0 over two legs and will believe they can trouble Fenerbahce in Turkiye.
The latest Fenerbahce vs Sturm Graz odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
Kartal begins his fourth spell in charge of Fenerbahce with a squad stacked with attacking talent.
Talisca’s sharpness has been a major early positive, while Greenwood is expected to feature more prominently after building up to full match fitness in training.
N’Golo Kante is back in training again after his post-World Cup break but the Frenchman seems unlikely to break up the double pivot of Fred and Matteo Guendouzi for this clash.
Milan Skriniar and Nathan Ake form an experienced centralo defensive pairing, flanked by Jayden Ooosterwolde on the left and Nelson Semedo on the right.
Sturm are likely to be without several key players through injury with midfielder Luca Weinhandl joining attacker Otar Kiteishvili and on-loan striker Nelson Weiper in the treatment room for last weekend's draw with Tirol.
Coach Fabio Ingolitsch could tinker with his formation for this daunting away trip to Turkey with Szymon Wlodarczyk possibly missing out and Seedy Jatta set for a lone striker’s role.
Jacob Hodl and Simon Seidl should again feature in attacking roles with Jeyland Mitchell set for a recall in central defence after being rested in Saturday’s Austrian Bundesliga opener.
The latest Fenerbahce vs Sturm Graz odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
Fenerbahce are unbeaten in eight home games against Austrian opposition (five wins, three draws).
Sturm have not lost a competitive match since February 14.
Fener have scored in 12 of their last 13 home European qualifiers.
Sturm failed to score in three of their five European away games last season.
Fenerbahce’s last five home matches have averaged 3.4 goals.
The latest Fenerbahce vs Sturm Graz odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
Fenerbahce ground out a 2-1 aggregate win over Gornik in the previous round and it would be no surprise if this tie was to follow a similar path with Kartal’s team not yet firing on all cylinders.
Greenwood is still settling into life at the club and Marcos Asensio has registered only one blocked shot in his first 66 minutes of action this season.
Kartal’s side were solid enough in defence against the Polish side to suggest they can shut out an injury-hit Sturm side, though.
The Austrian outfit bagged half a dozen goals against hapless Hearts in the second qualifying round but will not find the Turkish team’s defence to be as generous.
Gornik managed only one shot on target and had a mere 11 touches in Fenerbahce’s box at Sukri Saracolglu last month.
Score prediction: Fenerbahce 1‑0 Sturm Graz
Back under 0.5 Sturm Graz goals at 49/50 with LiveScore Bet.
The latest Fenerbahce vs Sturm Graz odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
