Europa League: Sturm based on the final round against Lazio

“We’ll meet them in our own style,” Elzer declared, referring to high-intensity pressing football. Recent findings prove that Styria was right with his philosophy.

In the league, his team conceded no goal for 435 minutes, and on Sunday Graz gained additional self-confidence with a 3-0 victory over Vienna, Austria. Overall, Sturm has been in a good mood in recent weeks, in the last eight competitive matches there have been six wins and only one defeat for Ilzer.

However, this was difficult: 0:6 in the European League in Feyenoord Rotterdam. In any case, Jörg Seppenhandel was a combative. “Nothing is impossible. We went to Rotterdam with the same situation, and things went wrong there. We have nothing to lose,” said the goalkeeper.

Winter in Europe as a big goal

Anyway, coach Elzer wants to bring the Romans home without points and after winning 1-0 at Midtigland at the start, they want their second win. “Our goal is to spend the winter in Europe. Winning would be a huge achievement and would take us a big step closer to our goal.” However, according to Elzer, the Italians have extreme qualities when it comes to possession and “tremendous sharpness” against the ball, therefore, should not be thrown Question about who is the preferred candidate.

After all, a Storm coach can fully count, “Almost all of my players are fit,” Ilzer said. High-performance Jakob Guncher is also back, and the veteran took part in this week’s entire team practice session. “He is a very experienced player,” Elzer said, but also emphasized that “of course he hasn’t played for a long time.” With the fans behind him, the “energy kettle” should be used, he believes his team is capable of “a great performance.”

Lazio has something to make up for it

With Lazio, the heaviest part of Group F was supposed to be a guest at Graz-Liebenau. Maurizio Sarri’s team is full of eminent names, in the front Ciro Immobile scores goals, behind Sergei Milinkovic-Savic wipes everything. For the Serbian international, this is a return to Graz: Papa Nikola Milinkovic became the champion of Austria with GAK in 2004, while Sergej played for a few years in the youth team of the GAK.

However, the second day of the European League showed that the Romans are not untouched. Since Sarri’s VFC Midtjelland, who lost in Graz, got under the wheels 1:5, Storm defeated the Danes 1:0 at the start. Sarri admitted that they entered the match against Midgeland with “a certain arrogance”. “We believed in an easy game and we were wrong. The coach warned that “at the European level you always have to give 100 percent”.

Just like the people of Graz, the Romans are also demanding reparations. Lazio is currently fourth in Serie A after losing twice in Denmark with a 4-0 win over Cremonese and Spezia Calcio for “Biancocelesti”. All four teams in the group have three points.

Hot dance on many levels

Ilzer was warned: “We know from Italy that Lazio takes the game very seriously and will not spare any player.” Graz last met Lazio almost 20 years ago. At that time, the two teams faced each other in the third round of the European Cup, the Romans won the first leg in Graz 3-1, and Storm, the second leg in Italy 1-0.

In addition to the lawn, the police will be wanted around the game of risk. For the first time, two water cannons will be supplied from Vienna in the capital of Styria. With more than 1,000 fans expected from Italy, Lazio supporters are known to be a tough crowd, with around 150-200 considered “problematic”. Merkur Arena has been sold, and the total number of spectators is expected to reach 14,500.