SK Sturm Graz 0 Sporting CP 2
Tuesday October 22nd, 2024
28 Black Arena
Champions League Matchday 3
Round three of the Champions League sees Sporting travel to Austria for a repeat of last season's Europa League cup tie. The two sides not only finished Champions of their respective leagues in the last campaign but have continued their form into this and both once more sit top of the table.
Sporting picked up the maximum six points on offer when they met home and away. The home side led with a goal just before the hour mark before goals from Gyökeres and a late Diomande winner six minutes from time turned the tie on its head. Things were far more comfortable at the Alvalade with a 3-0 win. Gyökeres again found the net alongside a rare Inácio brace so the Austrians will be wary of Sporting's centre halves this time around. Or course with the new formatted Champions League no return visit to the Alvalade and Sporting have surely earmarked this as a game to come away with maximum points if they're to progress into the knockout stages of the competition.
Sporting are so far unbeaten in the Champions League though they have to count themselves fortunate to have left the Dutch Champions PSV with a point from a Bragança strike to make it 1-1. Their opening win to Lille was far more comfortable and it should be noted that the French side bounced back to beat Real Madrid 1-0 in their next tie so there's no room for complacency ahead of this game.
SG are yet to secure a point having lost in France to Brest 2-1 and at home 1-0 to the Belgian side Club Brugge. Another loss will see them in danger of trying to avoid the igominy of finishing the new league format in last place. They will have at least been bouyed by ten goals in their last two league games. A 5-0 home win to RB Salzburg was followed on Saturday with a 5-2 home win against Grazer AK. As well all know domestic competition is a very different beast to European and SG's only goal to date has come from an own goal. Sporting warmed up with a 2-1 win in the Taça de Portugal Friday night away to second division Portimonense. They needed a 94th minute winner from Danish forward Conrad Harder to cancel out a late equaliser and avoid extra time and see them book their place in the 4th round of the tournament that saw them miss out on the double last campaign losing the final to Porto. Harder scored his first brace in Sporting colours making it three goals in five matches since his summer move. Another young Dane making waves is 21 year old Mika Biereth who has eight goals and an assist from ten league matches to date. Let's not forget Sporting have won every game this season in all competitions bar the 1-1 draw away to PSV. The Danes goals meanwhile have helped the Austrians to 7 wins but they've dropped 8 points drawing 1 and losing 2 in the Bundesliga. Whilst their goal difference sits at a healthy plus 12, two thirds of those came in the last two outings.
Sporting managed to give some of their players some rest Friday night. Having circumnavigated three quarters of the globe the Japanese midfielder Morita was an unused substitute as were the Uruguayan pair of Maxi Araújo and Franco Israel. Amorim confirmed Marcus Edwards absence was because of the knock sustained in training and had the scoreline been more comfortable St Juste would have been given the last 20 minutes but with the score just 1-0 and the possibility of having to play 50 minutes if the game went into extra time it was felt it wasn't worth the risk. Inácio looked off the pace which remains a concern with Diomande and Quaresma still sidelined with knocks. Ramos came through his debut unscathed and had been withdrawn by the time the home side equalised. Kovačević looks like he's still struggling to adapt to as he failed once more to keep a clean sheet and has let in three of the four goals conceded by Sporting in all competitions. Well seven of the eight if you count the four conceded in the Super Taça - which I'm not.
I'm almost embarrassed to admit that despite playing them twice just last season they've left no lasting impressions upon me at all. I can't distinguish between them and Raków which is poor form on my part. One of them plays I think on artificial grass although maybe that could be Young Boys, one in a tiny stadium - I'm thinking that's maybe Raków also. I also thought it was where Kovačević signed from but in hindsight that was probably Raków. So in conclusion - Sturm Graz, a side easily confused with Raków. These posts are nothing if not professional.
The biggest question going into this game for me comes in the stands and whether the travelling fans avoid the use of pyrotechnics with the threat of a ban of all home fans very real after the use of close on 100 against Lille resulted in two fans being injured and a fine of close on €80,000 the largest ever imposed on a club by UEFA. Sunday saw a game involving Hammarby stopped by the Police in the 76th minute who withdrew the safety licence for the fans to remain in the stadium. I've seen far worse instances than what actually occurred there so clearly the police don't dick about and that's quite some decision to have been made to stop a derby game in a full stadium and tell both sets of fans to vacate. If you want to get the message across that certain behaviours will not be tolerated in stadia that's how to do it and maybe if they treated racism and homophobia in the same manner fans would start self policing more.
Fingers crossed for a safe game in the stands and an entertaining one on the field though given their average percentage stat is just shy of 53% I do worry we'll see another team sitting back and trying to close off the space. Still Casa Pia had a 6-3-1, Portimonense a 5-3-2 so with each game sides are losing a man from defence and adding an attacker so maybe by law of averages we could get a 4-3-3? What do you mean it doesn't work like that? Quiet at the back.
In the markets
Sturm Graz 13/2
Draw 4/1
Sporting 4/11
Team news
Starting XI
Israel, Debast, Inácio, Esgaio, Geny, Hjulmand, Bragança, Nuno Santos, Araújo, Gyökeres and Trincão
Substitutes
Kovačević, Callai, Harder, Quenda, Morita, Fresneda, St Juste, Taibo, Reis, Gonçalves, Quaresma, Edwards and Diomande
First thought was Christ where do you even begin to unpack that lot? Early team news so I've only seen it as a list and not a shape. I'm guessing that Esgaio comes into the right side of a back 3, Geny wide right in a midfield 4 with Nuno Santos on the opposing flank and Araújo the man who will play furthest forward on the left of a forward 3. That's guess work and by the time you've read this you'll know anyway.
What a bench though. Shame you imagine most of them have probably no more than half an hour in their legs but there's solutions to problems you hope don't need solving. The return of Gonçalves, Edwards, Diomande, Reis, Quaresma and St Juste.
I said it last week after Portimonense but Fresneda surely has to be a dead man walking if he can't jump Esgaio in the pecking order. That's no slight on Esgaio by the way who I was impressed with on Friday night.
I was looking at the pass completion rate for Sturm Graz earlier because I don't have a life. It started off in the mid to low 80s as a percentage in August and has steadily dropped off a cliff since. I'm not going to waste my time trying to find the last time Sporting's pass completion rate dropped as low because I think I could be there some time. The question for me will be why is the Austrians percentage so low? After all they can lay claim to being the number one side in Austria certainly for the last 18 months of not more. It may be because they're not risk adverse. Saturday they recorded 30 attempts on goal so it could be a get it in the mixer philosophy and if it doesn't work out we'll go again. I feel like we're owed a good Sporting performance which I know, I KNOW fucking sounds ridiculous to write. The caveat will of course be that you break down 9 or 10 players behind the ball with patience which they've had to do in recent weeks whilst also being hamstrung by injuries. They've just been a little bit … what's the word… boring to watch. By all means be boring against Manchester City and Arsenal. Maybe sensible is the word. Can we have some swagger tonight please? Unpopular opinion claxon - I think Gyökeres owes us a performance and I'm not saying that to sound controversial. I know he was on the bench most of Friday and got the assist for the winner but I've not gushed over a performance in a few weeks and usually my go to line is what more can you write about this man's brilliance that I've not already said? Well tonight's line is can you get your finger out your arse for this 90 minutes please. There's a big Danish kid after your shirt. Well to be fair he said Friday he just wants to play so Franco be warned.
First half
Sporting in white get us underway and will attack left to right.
6 Trincão skips away to find space for a shot which sadly doesn't match the same level of skill leading up to it as he blasts it into the stand from 27 yards. That came from a mistake at the back, Trincão beat two men with consummate ease.
8 Fabulous work from Gyökeres wide right cut the ball back to Araújo but the chance went begging. Couldn't control his first touch. Better from Sporting who are now starting to pile on the pressure. Just before the Trincão chance I was going to point out SG defending with a 2-5 at the back. This will surely play to Sporting's advantage at some point. That's not a typo btw after a 6-3 and 5-2 recently.
11 SG very content to clear their lines by kicking the ball to touch which answers my question about their pass percentage completion above.
15 Double chance. First Geny tries wide right from 16 yards but his shot was blocked. A ball into the box found Gyökeres who from 8 yards firstly headed the ball taking the pace of it to allow it to drop and his spinning volley just goes over the bar.
22 GOAL Sturm Graz 0 Sporting CP 1. Geny with a superb run to the byline left his marker for dead, pulls it back to Gyökeres who missed it totally with an air kick, fell to Nuno Santos whose shot is turned in from 2 yards by the keeper. Nuno Santos takes the applause for now, we'll see if they confirm it's his or an own goal
23 Gyökeres turns his marker but loses his footing as he shoots and fires wide from ten yards.
25 Goal appears to have been awarded to Nuno Santos. That's his first of the season in any competition.
27 Flag goes up for offside as Jatta brings an incredible diving save low to Israel's right with a header from ten yards. Wouldn't have counted but that's to take nothing away from the Uruguayan there.
29 Another great save from Israel. Jatta held off Hjulmand and found Biereth who charged into the 18 yard box and fired a low shot from the left from 12 yards towards the far post. Inácio with a great block to stop the follow up. That's the best we've seen from the Austrians tonight.
33 Jatta shifts the ball from his left to right but then couldn't get the power into his shot and fires straight at Israel. Looks like a name to watch out for the Norwegian U21 forward. We do like a Scandinavian forward.
36 Araújo has the touch of the Arthur's about him. Tricks and flicks aplenty which are great when they come off and not so great when they don't.
38 Yellow to Valcouye for a poor late challenge on Araújo.
40 Boving goes down clutching his head following a challenge by Geny in which his nearest part of his body is a foot away from his head. You can see why Geny was waving his finger at the assistant who couldn't have been more than five yards away. When will players stop these shenanigans? It doesn't help players who might have a genuine head injury one day with play acting. They have these things called replays you idiot.
43 Gyökeres holds the ball up and finds Hjulmand open 20 yards out centrally who's sweetly struck shot is blocked for a corner
44 Trincão header from 10 yards brings a save from the keeper. Comfortable in the end though for Scherpen. Can't remember the last time I wrote about a corner for Sporting that resulted in a chance.
Plus one indicated
Half time
Sturm Graz 0 Sporting CP 1
Sporting have shaded the opening 45 in an entertaining first half. They've certainly played much better than they did against PSV last time out. Sporting completing 316 passes at 90%. PSV were happy with a succession of tactical fouls where to be fair to the Austrians they've allowed for a more flowing game of football.
Israel looks a different keeper again. Really impressed by him and I cannot stress that enough. Esgaio has looked faultless in the right of the back three. Nothing fancy of course, has put his foot on the ball when needed and just taken the pace out of the game. Geny has worked well on the right tracking back to provide extra cover for Esgaio and claims the assist for the goal which Nuno Santos struck from the edge of the six yard box and I'm not convinced that isn't an own goal by the keeper. He turns that into his own net with a huge mistake.
Gyökeres has shown great industry and been prepared to run at the defence and cause maximum levels of nuisance. Hjulmand is really growing on me now. I'm starting to get how good he really is as a box to box midfielder. Late to the party as always. Araújo ujo has been the outlet for most of the first half. There's something about him. I don't know if it's going to adhere him to Amorim because there was something about Arthur Gomes and looks what happened to him.
Second half
If you watch the opening goal you might think the person playing the music during half time was taking the piss as Elton John's I'm still standing rang out.
47 Gyökeres turns and runs at the defence but just had one touch too many. Looked menacing and full of purposeful intent
50 SG on the counter with Biereth wide open unmarked on the right. He's furious he wasn't picked out. I'm however mightily relieved.
52 GOLAZO Sturm Graz 0 Sporting CP 2. Gyökeres take a bow son. Picked the ball up on the left wing, rolls his marker, took it to the edge of the 18 yard box, sits the keeper down with a faint and then slots it home from the edge of the area. Debast gets the assist. He calmly dribbled the ball out of danger, nonchalant flick with the outside of the boot to find Gyökeres. So much to love about the goal from start to finish
55 ➡️⬅️ Reis on for Esgaio. I don't know if that's a fitness thing having played Friday night for the first time in ages. Another solid game from the old head.
57 Just starting to sense there's a third goal in this game for Sporting.
59 Trincão has just woken up in the last two minutes. He turns and charged at the defence but scuffs his shot wide of the right post. I said at the end of the Portimonense post that pedigree horses need room to gallop and there's certainly that in Austria tonight.
61 Home side are clinging on now.
65 Reis interestingly has settled into the left of the three with Inácio going central and Debast on the right
66 PENALTY. Geny shaped to shoot and went down with a challenge from behind by Gazibegovic. Referee didn't hesitate but VAR have intervened. Referee runs to the monitor. Think this will be overturned.
68 No penalty. Can't argue with that. Ironically Geny ends up kicking Gazibegovic who'd just got the march on him and that folks is why we have VAR.
69 ➡️ ⬅️ Bragança, Araújo and Debast off
Gonçalves, Morita and St Juste on.
71 Ball flashes all the way across the six yard box and out to safety from Lavalée’s low cross from the left. Heart in mouth job. The overturning of the penalty has maybe given them a little bit more belief and Sporting just need to regroup with four new bodies on the pitch in the last six minutes
74 There's another goal in this game. Can't tell you who it'll be too. You get the feeling if Sporting hit them on the break it could be lights out
75 Mistake at the back from Sporting gives SG a chance to apply the pressure again. Sporting with those famous European night collywobbles.
77 This game has turned on its head in the last 11 minutes. No communication at the back, can't pass a ball to each other. Switch on Sporting otherwise this will be 2-1
78 Gazibegovic shot from 20 yards deflects and saved by Israel. My heart rate is going up. Hello anxiety my old friend I've not missed you.
79 Trincão picks the ball up inside the D. Spinning turn and just sees his effort go past the left hand post
80 SG straight back down the other end. Corner ball. 5th of the night cleared for now
81 Israel palms another shot to safety from Gazibegovic. No idea how far out he was there but it was some distance
81 Gyökeres has me out of my chair as he ran from the halfway line to leave himself one on one with the keeper but his effort is saved. Offside flag went up anyway so wouldn't have counted.
82 Trincão has the ball nipped off his toes with a last ditch tackle inside the area.
83 ➡️⬅️ Quenda replaces Nuno Santos. Imagine he'll swap wings with Geny. Just shows how fluid this team is.
84 Gyökeres draws the foul to just take the pace out of the game. Quenda has indeed gone out to the right.
85 I think Sporting will kick themselves if they don't make it 3 but be equally as relieved if Sturm Graz don't score.
86 Quenda shoots low but straight at the keeper from close range
87 How have Sporting not made it 3-0?!?!? Three man break the length of the pitch from an SG corner cleared. I was standing up all ready and Gyökeres of all people scuffs his shot wide. Fuck me.
89 Lot of substitutions this half we'll be looking at a few minutes additional time plus the VAR check happened don't forget.
Plus six indicated
+1 SG corner headed clear again.
+3 SG free kick in a dangerous position just to the left of the 18 yard box
+3 Yardimci shown the yellow
+4 Finally the free kick is taken but palmed away by Israel. That will count as a shot on target but was never going to beat the Uruguayan from there.
Full time
Sturm Graz 0 Sporting CP 2
The final word
For 66 minutes that game was pretty much in Sporting's pocket. One VAR decision overturned, few substitutions made and they were hanging on at times. That being said Gyökeres should have put the game out of reach in the 87th minute. Still my heart will drop back to where it should live at some point tonight I'm sure. It's definitely been an entertaining game. Fair play to the Austrians for smelling blood at the end against the defence that ended the game and clearly demonstrated they're not used to playing together and aren't match fit which is frankly a bloody dangerous combination that if nothing else reminded me that my heart still works.
On another night Gyökeres comes away with the matchball tucked under his arm and fortunately for him as it's Sturm Graz v Sporting CP and not Bayern v Barca meaning it'll be clipped up into a two minute highlight reel not eight minutes and if you didn't watch the game you'll probably never know how bad that scuffed shot was on 87. Yes he was unplayable at times tonight and yes his goal was good on the eye but he'll be furious with himself.
Debast has got a calm head on his shoulders. Maybe too calm at times but that's the second game on the bounce he's really impressed me. I'd like to know how far Hjulmand ran tonight because he really put the hard yards in. Bragança might have been the hero in PSV but didn't do enough to warrant keeping Morita out of the starting XI long term when the Japanese international finally gets his body back onto Portuguese time.
I've seen nothing to swaye from the opinion that Araújo is a more expensive Arthur Gomes. He's going to make someone look silly soon enough and maybe he just needs more game time and will be more consistent with his end product. Right now he's got a fair way to climb in my estimations. Geny certainly looked much better tonight. He impressed me hugely on the left flank at the start of the campaign but he's certainly more effective out on the right and he gets huge credit for the assist when he lost his marker and played a great ball in which by rights should have been Gyökeres first of the night.
Considering Esgaio has barely ever featured in a back 3 I've no complaints about him tonight before he went off just before the hour mark.
St Juste looked a shadow of himself which is understandable given he's barely kicked a ball and you have to keep everything crossed that this time he gets a break and doesn't get injured but sadly we're all playing the waiting game until he does inevitably get another knock and I'm guessing so is he.
Whilst not the next match for Sporting, from a Champions League point of view at least it's Manchester City up next and we'll need the likes of Diomande and Gonçalves if we're to stand any chance of getting a result. Performance didn't matter as much tonight, what matters was three points and we came away with them to remain unbeaten in the competition on 7 points. We were much better than we were against PSV but that's not saying much. City are going to be massive test for this Sporting side but their defence is fallible. Ours just isn't match fit enough. Craig Ballon Dawson kept Haaland quiet Sunday with a vintage display for Wolves so it can be done. We'll see how good Diomande or Debast really are depending on who gets marking duties on the night.
So that leaves man of the match. Gyökeres played well but I can't give it to him with the four chances he missed despite his Golazzo. I can easily make the case for Hjulmand who left it all out on the pitch. Debast had a 94% passing completion rate, was wonderful in his play out from the back that led to the assist for the second goal. Jesus what a turn around though by this young man to have me going - you're making me eat every word I typed about you last season and with every game I'm happily eating them up - it's got to be Franco Israel again. I feel like me and him stepped into a parallel world during the summer. He really has impressed me this season and if you've been reading these posts long-term you'll know that had you said last October that in 12 months time you'll do a complete 180° turn with Israel and be praising him every game he plays, keeps another clean sheet, I'd have broken a couple of ribs laughing at you. There's nothing I enjoy than seeing players prove me wrong so well done Franco here's to you son.
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