With all four teams level on points in finely-poised Group F, Sturm Graz host Europa League rivals Lazio on Thursday.
While both were thumped last time out in Europe, the first of back-to-back meetings in the next week sees both in fine form domestically: the hosts sit second in the Austrian Bundesliga and their visitors are fourth in Serie A.
Match preview
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Having kicked off their Group F campaign with a 4-2 home win over Feyenoord at the start of September, Lazio then suffered a shock 5-1 defeat at the hands of FC Midtjylland just before the international break.
A week after their successful opener at Stadio Olimpico, the Biancocelesti found themselves two goals down by the half-hour mark, before conceding three more times after the interval - all despite dominating possession in Denmark.
That result represents an outlier, though, as Maurizio Sarri's men still show signs of being genuine top-four contenders in Italy, having finished fifth last season to secure European football.
Following a comprehensive crushing of Spezia last time out, Lazio sit just three points behind early pace-setters Napoli and Atalanta in the Serie A standings, and confidence is sky-high in the camp thanks to four-goal wins either side of the international period.
Having scored 17 times so far domestically (only Napoli have managed more), Sarri's side have now won each of their last three league games without conceding once - a feat the club had not achieved for seven years. Furthermore, they have let in only five goals altogether.
Now, they must translate such form to their latest continental assignment, where they meet Sturm Graz for the first time since a UEFA Cup victory over their Austrian counterparts almost 20 years ago.
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Quite curiously, like Lazio, Sturm Graz took three points from their opening Europa League fixture before enduring a far rougher ride on the second matchday.
In the case of Die Schwoazn, they got off to a good start courtesy of their 1-0 win over Midtjylland at Merkur-Arena, before being thrashed 6-0 at De Kuip seven days later.
That capitulation to a relentless Feyenoord side came as something of a shock, given they had won four of their previous five matches and drawn the other, but a subsequent return to winning ways has reasserted their credentials.
Head coach Christian Ilzer led his team to a 3-0 away victory over Austria Wien on Sunday - in which Celtic loanee Albian Ajeti opened the scoring - and after back-to-back victories they occupy second place in the Bundesliga table behind perennial champions RB Salzburg.
The Styrian outfit have won just one of their last 12 Europa League games, though; losing nine times in the process. If they are to recover from their setback in Rotterdam and ultimately progress from the group, they have to improve such a record despite facing formidable opponents twice in the space of a week.
Team News
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Due to a busy schedule at home and abroad, Maurizio Sarri is likely to make a number of changes to his Lazio XI for Thursday's trip to Austria. He has a full squad to choose from, the injured Nicolo Casale aside.
Elseid Hysaj is expected to come into the visitors' back four, while Matias Vecino or Marcos Antonio may be in line for promotion to the starting side in midfield. After adding two more strikes to his impressive total of goals and assists in 2022, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could play a role again, but perhaps as a substitute.
Up front, star striker Ciro Immobile should be joined by either Mattia Zaccagni and veteran winger Pedro.
Meanwhile, Sturm's Stefan Hierlander returns from suspension this week after being dismissed for two bookable offences in their opening game, and will feature in midfield for the hosts.
Despite the Dutch debacle that unfolded last time out in Europe, Christian Ilzer is set to persist with a 4-3-1-2 formation, with captain Jon Gorenc Stankovic occupying a screening role in midfield; supporting Hierlander and Alexander Prass.
Having scored at the weekend, Albian Ajeti will hope to partner Emanuel Emegha up front, but Danish teenager William Boving may win the nod instead.
Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Siebenhandl; Gazibegovic, Wuthric, Borkovic, Dante; Hierlander, Stankovic, Prass; Horvat; Boving, Emegha
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Hysaj; Alberto, Cataldi, Vecino; Pedro, Immobile, Zaccagni
We say: Sturm Graz 1-2 Lazio
As Lazio have lost eight of their last 10 Europa League games on the road, victory should not be taken for granted as they travel outside Rome again. Nonetheless, their greater individual quality should see them past a modest Sturm Graz side in what could be quite an open contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
