UEFA Europa League 26/27 · Round 2 ·
AFC Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz preview: Bournemouth host Sturm Graz with the market heavily favouring the home side
Bournemouth welcome Sturm Graz to the Vitality Stadium with the market pricing the home side at 82% to win, a reflection of the visitors' blank attacking record so far this season. The clearest signal is the away side's failure to score in their only match, while Bournemouth have already found the net twice.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Injury list hits Bournemouth's attack
Bournemouth are without six players, including midfielder Justin Kluivert, who has scored 1 goal, 50% of the side's goals in this competition. Defenders Julian Araujo and Veljko Milosavljevic, midfielders Alex Scott, and forwards Amine Adli and Eli Junior Kroupi are also unavailable through injury. Sturm Graz have no players listed as unavailable, so their squad is not reported to be missing anyone for this match.
Rayan carries Bournemouth's scoring threat
Bournemouth's attack has been led by forward Rayan, who has 1 goal in 1 match, 50% of the team's goals in this competition. With Justin Kluivert also on 1 goal but unavailable, Rayan is the leading available scorer for the home side. Sturm Graz have no players listed among the top scorers or assisters, so their attacking output has not yet been carried by any individual in this competition.
Both sides arrive with contrasting recent results
Bournemouth's last six matches in all competitions have produced 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses, with 11 goals scored and 11 conceded. Their latest result was a 5-1 defeat at Chelsea, and they have lost their last 2 matches. Sturm Graz have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last six, scoring 9 and conceding 8, and they won their most recent match 2-0 at Austria. Bournemouth have had 5.2 days since their last match, Sturm Graz 5.1 days.
Bournemouth lead the early table
Bournemouth sit 10th with 3 points from 1 match, having won their only away fixture 2-1. Sturm Graz are 17th with 1 point from their single home match, a 0-0 draw. Bournemouth have yet to play at home this season, while Sturm Graz have yet to play away, so neither side brings a venue-specific record into this fixture.
No previous meetings to draw on
There is no head-to-head history between Bournemouth and Sturm Graz in the data available, so this fixture offers no pattern from past meetings to inform the preview.
Bournemouth's attack far sharper than Sturm Graz's
Bournemouth average 2.0 goals per match this season, a figure that is large and better than the league average of 1.31. Sturm Graz have scored 0.0 goals per match, which is large and worse than the league average. The attack edge is firmly with Bournemouth, who have scored twice in their only match, while Sturm Graz have failed to score in theirs.
Sturm Graz yet to concede, Bournemouth marginally better than average
Sturm Graz have conceded 0.0 goals per match, a record that is large and better than the league average of 1.31. Bournemouth have conceded 1.0 goals per match, which is marginal and better than the league average. The defence edge is with Sturm Graz, who have kept a clean sheet in their only match, while Bournemouth have conceded once.
Bournemouth test the goalkeeper more often
Bournemouth average 4.0 shots on goal per match, compared with 3.0 for Sturm Graz. Both sides average 1.0 blocked shots per match. Bournemouth also average 6.0 shots off goal per match, while Sturm Graz average 3.0.
Bournemouth score early, Sturm Graz yet to score
Bournemouth have scored all 2 of their goals in the first 30 minutes, with 50% in the opening 15 minutes and 50% between minutes 16 and 30. They have conceded their only goal in the 46-60 minute window. Sturm Graz have not scored or conceded in any 15-minute window this season, as their only match ended 0-0.
Bournemouth's matches produce goals, Sturm Graz's do not
Bournemouth's only match this season went over 2.5 goals, with 100% of their matches over 1.5 and 2.5 goals. Sturm Graz's only match went under 0.5 goals, with 0% over 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 goals. Bournemouth's first half has produced over 1.5 goals in 100% of their matches, while Sturm Graz's first half has produced over 1.5 goals in 0%.
Market expects a comfortable Bournemouth win
The market prices Bournemouth at 82% to win, with Sturm Graz at just 7% and the draw at 12%. Bournemouth's sharper attack and Sturm Graz's blank scoring record support that read, though Sturm Graz's clean sheet offers a small defensive counterpoint. The most likely shape is a Bournemouth win with the home side finding the net at least once, while Sturm Graz will need to break their scoring duck to trouble the hosts.