Sturm Graz vs SK Slovan Bratislava Prediction & Betting Tips - Conference League

Prediction published on 13/02/2024, 12:45  by Ian John | Modified on 15/02/2024 at 04:45 in Conference League Prediction

Sturm Graz face Slovan Bratislava on Thursday in the Europa Conference League Playoff first leg tie. A place in the Round of 16 awaits the winner against one of the seeded teams that earned that right by finishing top of their group. SK Sturm are currently chasing Red Bull Salzburg hard a the top of the Austrian Bundesliga table. They have conceded just 13 goals in their 18 league games this season and sit 2 points behind the leaders and five ahead of LASK in third. In Europe, they finished third in a tough Europa League group, behind Atalanta and Sporting Lisbon, finishing ahead of Rakow Czestochowa on goal difference. This will be their first ever tie against a team from Slovakia in European competition.

Their opponents Slovan Bratislava come into this game in their customary position at the top of the table in Slovakia. They sit ten points clear of MSK Zilina, having scored 49 goals in just 19 games. While they dominate domestically, Slovan have not been quite so effective in Europe. They finished second behind French team Lille to earn a place in the Conference League playoffs in the New Year, winning three of their games although only one of those victories came at home.  Bratislava returned to domestic football at the weekend in style, recording a 4-0 away win at second place MSK Zilina to cement their place at the top of the table.