Sturm Graz v Marseille: Preview, predicted line-ups & team news
Sturm Graz and Marseille meet in Europa League league-stage matchday 3, both needing points after a poor start. The data leans towards an away win.
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Round hook
Sturm Graz v Marseille is a matchday 3 fixture in the Europa League league stage at the Merkur-Arena, and both clubs arrive short of points. Sturm Graz sit 26th on one point from two games, according to the supplied standings snapshot. Marseille have lost both of their matches, so a third defeat would leave them with an uncomfortable amount of ground to make up. The table is tight, with ten sides already on six points after two rounds, which means a single result can move a team a long way.
Sturm Graz
MarseillePath to the round
Sturm Graz opened with a 0-0 draw at home to Rennes on 16 September, then lost 3-0 at Bournemouth on 15 October. The form data shows no goals scored in those two matches, with an average expected goals figure of 0.37 for and 2.88 against, and the side averaged 38% possession.
Marseille lost 4-1 at Beşiktaş on 17 September and then 1-0 at home to Olympiakos Piraeus on 15 October. They have conceded five in two games, an average of 2.5, though their recent-form figures are better than the results: 12.5 shots per game, 4 on target and 0.9 expected goals for, against 0.63 expected goals against in the same sample.
Rotation context
Rotation looks a minor factor here. Neither side has a win to protect, and both have used a small number of players across two matches, with Sturm Graz playing a 5-3-2 in both and Marseille a 4-2-3-1. Sturm Graz are also short of bodies, with ten players listed as unavailable, so the home side's selection is largely forced. Marseille have three absentees and a deeper pool to choose from. Neither club is currently in the play-off places with the pressure that brings, so a strong XI from both is the most likely outcome.
Sturm GrazMarseille
Line-ups
Sturm Graz3-4-1-2- 22GA. Helac
- 23DA. Malic
- 2DJ. Quarshie
- 30DP. Koller
- 28MJ. Heil
- 4MJ. Gorenc Stankovič
- 39MLuca Weinhandl
- 43MJacob Peter Hödl
- 78MV. Matoshi
- 14FO. Diakité
- 19FS. Seidl
Marseille4-3-3- 12GJ. de Lange
- 74DK. Bezahaf
- 18DB. Meité
- 21DN. Aguerd
- 25DU. Garcia
- 42MNouhoum Kamissoko
- 19MG. Kondogbia
- 7MA. Gomes
- 48FK. Abdallah
- 9FA. Gouiri
- 11FN. Maupay
Where to watch
Kick-off is at 17:45 BST on Thursday 22 October 2026. The UK broadcaster is not confirmed for this fixture, and the page will be updated closer to kick-off. This is a league-stage match, so there is no second leg. If level after 90 minutes, the match ends as a draw, with no extra time or penalties.
Stats and records
- Sturm Graz have scored 0 goals in two Europa League games this season, with 2 failed-to-score matches from 2 played.
- Marseille have conceded 5 goals in two matches, 4 of them away from home, and have lost both league-stage games.
- Sturm Graz's average expected goals for in their last two matches is 0.37, against 2.88 conceded, on the recent-form data.
- No head-to-head data was supplied for this fixture, so no previous meeting is cited.
Match Result: Marseille to win
The numbers point to Marseille. Sturm Graz have failed to score in both league-stage games and carry an expected goals against figure of 2.88 per game in the recent-form data, while Marseille have created 12.5 shots per game against the home side's 8.5. bet365 price Marseille at 17/20, with Sturm Graz at 4/1 and the draw at 11/4. The risk is Marseille's own defence, which has conceded five in two, so a home goal is plausible and the data leans towards a narrow away win rather than a comfortable one.