Carrying the momentum from a dominant 6:1 derby victory and backed by their own crowd at the Stadion Graz-Liebenau, SK Sturm Graz faces Olympique Marseille on Thursday at 18:45 CET in the UEFA Europa League, as reported by LAOLA1. The Austrian vice-champions enter the fixture looking to secure their first win of the current league phase, while the visitors arrive in Styria seeking stability after a rocky start to their European campaign.
Chasing Momentum and Defying the Odds in Liebenau
Sturm Graz manager Fabio Ingolitsch acknowledges the scale of the challenge against the nine-time French champions. “Marseille is again above us, but in this stadium, you first have to beat us,” Ingolitsch said ahead of the match. “In this city, with the energy and the success story behind us, we want to deliver a very courageous performance, put everything on one card and play for a win even against a bigger opponent.”
Simon Seidl, who provided three assists in the recent thrashing of GAK, believes the squad can replicate that high-intensity approach on the European stage. “If we appear with the same energy again, we can also win the game,” Seidl noted. The club hopes to channel the spirit of October 1999, when Sturm last hosted Marseille in the UEFA Champions League and claimed a 3:2 victory.
Ammar Helac Replaces Injured Daniil Khudyakov
The Austrian side must play the fixture without several key players, including goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov, who recently suffered a broken lower leg. Ingolitsch provided an update on the 22-year-old Russian, noting that despite the sporting blow, Khudyakov is in an “excellent mental condition” following successful surgery and has received visits from teammates.
Ammar Helac is set to deputize between the posts until the winter break. “Ammar is at the exact right footballing age. He is extremely serious and works totally professionally,” Ingolitsch stated, emphasizing that the 28-year-old retains the maximum confidence of the coaching staff.
Marseille Brings Individual Quality Despite European Defeats
Olympique Marseille travels to Austria under pressure following back-to-back European defeats, having fallen 4:1 to Beşiktaş and 0:1 to Olympiakos after opening the league phase with a scoreless draw against Stade Rennes. Although manager Imanol Alguacil endured a difficult start in Ligue 1 with four losses in five matches, the French side stabilized domestically with away victories against Troyes (2:0) and Angers (5:2).
Ingolitsch remains wary of the visitors’ individual quality, pointing to American right-back Timothy Weah, Brazilian winger Igor Paixão, and Algerian forward Amine Gouiri. Meanwhile, Dane Pierre-Emile Højbjerg remains unlikely to feature due to a recent thigh injury.
Anticipating a Positive Atmosphere in Graz
With approximately 14,000 tickets sold by Wednesday afternoon and over 1,000 traveling supporters expected from France, the venue promises a vibrant atmosphere. “They have some of the most famous fans in France. A cauldron awaits us in a positive sense,” Ingolitsch concluded, stressing the vital importance of maximizing home fixtures in the Europa League.
