BETTING GUIDE: Sturm Graz Vs Nottingham Forest, match preview, team news and betting prediction

Nottingham Forest will look to carry their newfound European momentum into Thursday night’s UEFA Europa League clash when they travel to face Austrian champions Sturm Graz at the Merkur Arena.

With both sides searching for consistency in continental competition, this fixture promises to be a key test of character and tactical discipline for two clubs eager to stay in contention for knockout qualification.

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Under new manager Sean Dyche, Nottingham Forest made the perfect start to their European campaign, defeating Portuguese giants FC Porto 2–0 at the City Ground to mark their first European victory in three decades.

That win showcased Dyche’s trademark pragmatism - compact defensive shape, direct transitions, and clinical set-piece execution.

However, the English side has since endured mixed fortunes.

A 2–0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth and a 2–2 draw with Manchester United at the weekend extended their domestic winless streak to nine league games (D3, L6).

Despite showing flashes of improvement, Forest remain 19th in the Premier League, and Dyche’s men will be desperate to use the Europa League as a platform to rebuild confidence.

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In Europe, Forest have registered one win, one draw, and one loss across their opening three group fixtures, placing them 17th in the 36-team league phase.

A victory in Austria could propel them into the top eight, provided other results go their way.

The challenge, however, will be improving their away record - they are currently winless in seven straight away matches (D3, L4) across all competitions and have kept just one clean sheet in their last 23 outings.

After retaining the Austrian Bundesliga title last season, Sturm Graz entered this European campaign with ambition but have struggled for consistency both domestically and in Europe.

Jurgen Säumel’s men sit just three points off leaders Red Bull Salzburg but come into this clash on the back of two consecutive league defeats - 3–1 to Wolfsberger and 2–1 to Rapid Wien, despite leading at half-time in the latter.

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In the Europa League, they have picked up three points from a possible nine, courtesy of a 2–1 home victory over Rangers sandwiched between losses to Midtjylland (0–2) and Celtic (1–2).

Currently 27th in the overall standings, Sturm Graz are still very much in the qualification mix, but they must address their defensive frailties - conceding two or more goals in four of their last six European fixtures.

Säumel praised his side’s “courageous performance” against Celtic but admitted that “small details” have cost them in key moments.

That inexperience at European level could again prove costly against a disciplined Dyche side.

The Austrians, however, have historically proven strong at home - each of their last four European wins have come at the Merkur Arena.

Going into this match, Sturm Graz will be without Max Johnston (hamstring) and Belmin Beganovic (ankle), while Alexandar Borkovic is ineligible after being omitted from the Europa League squad.

Midfielder Tochi Chukwuani serves a suspension following his red card against Celtic, leaving Säumel likely to hand starts to Filip Rozga or Julius Beck alongside Jon Gorenc Stankovic in midfield.

Key playmaker Otar Kiteishvili - with seven goals in all competitions - will once again be the creative heartbeat, supported by Tomi Horvat and Manprit Sarkaria.

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For Nottingham Forest, injury concerns continue to pile up. Douglas Luiz limped off early in the draw against Manchester United with a hamstring issue and joins Ola Aina, Chris Wood, Dilane Bakwa, and Oleksandr Zinchenko on the sidelines.

Additionally, Taiwo Awoniyi, Omari Hutchinson, Jair Cunha, and Angus Gunn were left out of the club’s Europa League squad and remain unavailable.

Dyche could recall captain Ryan Yates or Ibrahim Sangaré to replace Luiz in midfield alongside Elliot Anderson, while Morgan Gibbs-White - Forest’s most consistent creative outlet - will operate just behind Igor Jesus, who has two goals in this competition.

These clubs have met only once before in European competition, during the 1983/84 UEFA Cup quarter-finals, where Nottingham Forest triumphed 2–1 on aggregate after a first-leg draw and a second-leg victory at the City Ground. This will be their first meeting in over 40 years.

Expect a clash of styles - Sturm Graz will seek to impose high-tempo pressing and quick wide transitions, while Forest under Dyche will prioritize shape, defensive compactness, and set-piece efficiency.

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The visitors’ 4-4-1-1 structure relies heavily on maintaining central compactness and exploiting transitions through Gibbs-White’s creativity.

Sturm’s biggest challenge will be breaking down Forest’s disciplined mid-block while protecting against counterattacks, especially with Kiteishvili often vacating central zones. Their fullbacks’ forward surges could leave gaps for Forest to exploit on turnovers.

Key Pointers

Sturm Graz have struggled defensively, conceding at least two goals in four of their last six European main-draw fixtures.

Nottingham Forest’s Europa League matches have been goal-heavy, averaging 3.67 goals per game - one of the highest tallies in the tournament.

All of Sturm Graz’s last four European victories have come on home soil, highlighting their strong home advantage.

Just one of Forest’s last five matches across all competitions has produced goals at both ends, showing a trend toward one-sided scorelines.

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This fixture is finely poised between two inconsistent yet ambitious sides. Sturm Graz’s home advantage is significant, but Forest possess the superior squad depth and tactical structure under Dyche.

However, both teams’ defensive fragility and attacking tendencies suggest goals at both ends.

Forest’s European revival could continue in Austria, but expect a lively, end-to-end affair with late drama on the cards.

Prediction; Nottingham win or draw

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