Preview: FC Midtjylland vs. Sturm Graz - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side will secure a top two finish if they win, while the away side only need to avoid a defeat to qualify for the next round.

Match preview

Midtjylland are currently bottom of the group, although they are only separated from first-placed Lazio by three points, such is the competitive nature of Group F, one of only two groups in which every team can still progress to the knockout stages.

In the Wolves' previous encounter against Sturm Graz, they suffered a 1-0 defeat away in Austria, with Emanuel Emegha opening the scoring after eight minutes, and his side managing to hold on despite having Stefan Hierlander sent off with just over 15 minutes to play.

That result is one of two defeats suffered by Albert Capellas's side in the Europa League this season, also losing in their last game, a 2-1 defeat to Lazio, in a game where a victory would have meant that both them and Sturm Graz would have only needed a point on Thursday.

In the home game against Lazio, however, it was a different story, with Midtjylland winning in comprehensive style, 5-1 winners on the night against Italy's fifth-placed team in the 2021-22 season, in a result that few people would have expected.

This should give the Wolves confidence going into a game where nothing but a win is good enough to qualify for the knockout stages, as they know that they are able to compete against high-calibre opponents, despite poor recent form in the Danish Superliga, losing 2-1 on at home to Odense on Monday night and currently eighth in the league.

Sturm Graz are faring much better in their domestic league than their opponents, on a run of nine league games without defeat, and placed second in the standings.

The Austrian club come into the game off the back of a 2-1 win against Ried at the weekend, with Jakob Jantscher and Otar Kiteishvili getting on the scoresheet, as they stayed in the hunt for the league title.

Having amassed eight points in the Europa League so far, a point is enough for Christian Ilzer's side on Thursday night, with both Feyenoord and Midtjylland unable to reach what would be a tally of nine points.

A late victory over Feyenoord in their last match put them into this great position going into the final game, with Kiteishvili netting in the 93rd minute to steal all three points at the death in what was a heartbreaking blow for their opponents, who beat Sturm Graz 6-0 in Rotterdam but will now go into their final match in third place.

Other results in Group F for the visitors include a 0-0 draw at home to Lazio, and a 2-2 draw away against the Italians, with 19-year-old William Boving scoring twice to secure an important point.

FC Midtjylland Europa League form:

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FC Midtjylland form (all competitions):

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Sturm Graz Europa League form:

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Sturm Graz form (all competitions):

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Team News

For Midtjylland, long-term absentee Junior Brumado is unlikely to be available due to a knee issue, so Anders Dreyer, Gustav Isaksen, and Sory Kaba are all likely to start as part of a front three.

Other than that, however, the home side have a full squad to choose from, with consistent centre-back pairing Henrik Dalsgaard and Erik Sviatchenko set to get the nod again in defence.

Having been rested for the game against Odense on Monday, Evander should come back into the midfield, replacing Charles, who was withdrawn at half-time.

Sturm Graz's goalkeeper Jorg Siebenhandl is a doubt, currently suffering with a strain, but with it being such a crucial match, Ilzer may risk it and choose his first-choice stopper to start between the sticks.

If not, Tobias Schutzenauer is the most likely replacement, having been named on the bench for the majority of Sturm Graz's games so far this season.

Being in such good form, Kiteishvili should be a guaranteed starter in attacking midfield, playing just behind the strike partnership of Jantscher and Albian Ajeti.

FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:

Loessl; Andersson, Dalsgaard, Sviatchenko, Paulinho; Evander, Martinez, Olsson; Dreyer, Isaksen, Kaba

Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:

Siebenhandl; Ingolitsch, Wuethrich, Borkovic, Dante; Ljubic, Horvat, Prass, Kiteishvili; Ajeti, Boeving

We say: FC Midtjylland 1-1 Sturm Graz

It is no doubt going to be a tense affair, with so much on the line for both teams. Midtjylland will throw everything that they have at it late on, but we think Sturm Graz will hold on for a point, just about enough to get them through to the next round.

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