Now LIVE: Sturm Graz vs WSG Tirol on the ticker – football

“We can really cap this good week with a victory,” said Sturm coach Christian Ilzer. “It is important that we stay on the path to success.” His team has won five of the last six competitive games. The only loss of the season so far was against LASK in early November (0: 2).

The Grazers seized the opportunity against Salzburg. “When you beat the best team in the league, the series champions, it gives you incredible self-confidence, incredible strength,” explained Ilzer. But you also need to be able to classify success correctly. “Whatever energy we have there, we have to bring it in week after week.” Also against a rival like the WSG, against whom completely different expectations prevail.

The Tyrolese recently prevailed in St. Pölten (1: 0) and Admira (3: 0) and are just one point behind fourth Sturm in sixth place. “They added a couple of very interesting players. The combination seems to be working,” Ilzer said. “He is a very tough and uncomfortable opponent.” Wattens will make rooms very cramped. “But I’m optimistic. We can get through it well.”

The Storm Trainer warned of Kelvin Yeboah’s speed, but also of the qualities of veterans Thanos Petsos and Zlatko Dedic. He will have to rebuild his own team in central defense. Gregory Wüthrich is questionable due to a calf injury. Instead, defensive stabilizer Jon Gorenc-Stankovic should back off from midfield. Playmaker Otar Kiteishvili, who was injured for a month and a half, is also a problem for the starting eleven.

WSG coach Thomas Silberberger, on the other hand, can call on a fit 26-man squad. “In the past the first team line-up came alone, now it gives me a headache to nominate the right 18,” explained the Tyrolean, who also revised his assessment of the start of the season in September. At the time, he had predicted Sturm the difficult course in the qualifying group of the bottom six teams in the Bundesliga.

“I wouldn’t have believed Sturm after the expandable spring,” Silberberger said of the Graz hike. “You play amazing football. For me you are the most aggressive team against the ball.” Sturm has conceded five goals in seven games so far, the fewest in the league. In this way, the Styrians are a regular starter for the masterclass, Silberberger said. “It will be a brutally difficult match. However, we want to win something in Graz.”

Wattens has already scored two away wins this Bundesliga season. Also in the preseason, the Tyrolese achieved twice as many complete successes away from home (4) as in home games (2). Silberberger does not want to make too much of this in the days of Corona. “Due to the phantom fund, there is no longer any difference,” said the WSG coach.

LIVE ticker for the match Sturm Graz against WSG Tirol