2025-26 UEFA Europa League: League Phase – Sturm Graz vs Forest

Sturm Graz host Nottingham Forest in a league phase encounter in 2025-26 UEFA Europa League. 

Sat on three and four points respectively coming into this match, victory could lift either Sturm Graz or Forest into the seeded knockout play-off positions.

 

Team News

Tochi Chukwuani is suspended Sturm Graz after his red card in their 2-1 defeat at Celtic a fortnight ago.

Belmin Beganovic (ankle), Max Johnston (hamstring) and Alexander Borkovic (ineligible) are ruled out.

Forest will be without Callum Hudson-Odoi (leg) and Douglas Luiz (hamstring), whilst Igor Jesus is suspended due to having received three yellow-card bookings in their first three Europa League games.

Angus Gunn (knee), Ola Aina (hamstring), Dilane Bakwa (unspecified), Chris Wood (knee) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin) are still ruled out.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Jairo Cunha and Omari Hutchinson are sidelined after they were left out of Forest’s Europa League squad list.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Sturm Graz host Forest at Liebenauer Stadium on Thursday 6 November at 6:45pm CET (5:45pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

  • Sturm Graz are yet to beat Forest in all UEFA competitions (D1, L1).
  • Forest drew 1-1 in their only previous away trip to Sturm Graz in March 1984 in that season’s UEFA Cup Quarter-Finals.
  • Each of Sturm Graz’s last two league phase matches ended in 2-1 results, with the Austrian team having won at home to Rangers then lost away at Celtic by those score-lines.
  • Three of Forest’s six league phase goals were scored by Igor Jesus.

 

Prediction

Despite their decent form in the past month, Sturm Graz’s defence does seem to be their Achilles heel which will definitely face a tough test if Forest can somehow bring the same intensity which saw them claim a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last weekend in the Premier League.

Forest however only have two forwards available for this game which has to surely force a tactical reshuffle but if they can cut out the defensive errors, I can see them getting a win if can adapt quickly into the match to any tactical tweaks but a draw does feel like a safer call.

Prediction: Sturm Graz 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Result: Sturm Graz 0-0 Nottingham Forest

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