Overview
Lille are having a very impressive 2024-2025 season so far. Last weekend, coach Bruno Genesio's team convincingly defeated Brest with a score of 3-1.
Lille are currently on a 10-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 and are firmly in the top four. In the Champions League, they are unbeaten in their last four matches (winning three), most recently a 2-1 win over Bologna. The Pierre Mauroy team even defeated the two Spanish giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
As for Sturm Graz, they are still showing their dominance in the Austrian national championship with the top position after 16 rounds. However, the home team at Merkur Arena is not highly rated in the Champions League arena.
Except for the victory against an unstable Girona with a minimal score, coach Jurgen Saumel's team lost all 4 remaining matches and failed to score 3 times.
At this time, Lille is of course rated much higher than Sturm Graz. The French representative has a better quality squad with stars in good form such as Jonathan David, Angel Gomes, Edon Zhergova or goalkeeper Chevalier. If playing at their best, it will not be difficult for the home team Pierre Mauroy to win all 3 points against the Austrian representative.
The two teams met in the qualifying rounds of last season's Champions League, with Lille winning 3-0 in Austria before drawing 1-1 at home.
Human resources situation
Lille have a few injury concerns with Thomas Meunier, Angel Gomes, Ethan Mbappe and Nabil Bentaleb all sidelined. David will lead the line with Hakon Haraldsson supporting, while Bafode Diakite is in defence.
On the other side of the front line, Sturm Graz has no serious injuries. Biereth and Erancan Yardimci are likely to lead the attack. Tochi Chukwuani will start in midfield, while Gregory Wuthrich will appear in defence.
Expected lineup:
Lille: Chevalier, Gudmundsson, Ribeiro, Diakite, Mandi, Andre, Mukau, Fernandez-Pardo, Haraldsson, Zhegrova, David.
Sturm Graz: Khudyakov, Gazibegovic, Geyrhofer, Wuthrich, Lavalee, Chukwuani, Kiteishvili, Yacoulye, Biereth, Boving, Yardimci.
The match between Lille and Sturm Graz takes place at 0:45 am on December 12 (Vietnam time).
