Sturm Graz vs Rangers Predictions

• Both teams have not scored in Sturm Graz’s last six matches
• Both teams have not scored in five of Rangers’ last six games
• Rangers have failed to score in four of their last six fixtures

Goals could be in short supply in Graz

Sturm Graz and Rangers will be desperate to get their first Europa League points on the board when they clash at the Merkur Arena on Thursday evening.

Jurgen Saumel’s side are currently second in the Austrian Bundesliga and come into this clash off the back of a 1-0 win over Hartberg, sealed by a stoppage-time own goal. Their previous league result, a 2-0 away win in Salzburg was more impressive as the Blacks registered 27 shots to the Red Bulls’ 16 and 10 on target to the hosts five.

However, a 2-0 defeat in the intervening fixture against Midtjylland in this competition means they have some work to do to climb the standings.

Martin’s men now struggling to score

Rangers could be the perfect opponents for them at this time because matters on the field are in a mess. Russell Martin is clinging onto his job after a 2-1 win at Livingston on Sunday that lifted the Light Blues to a lowly eight place in the Scottish Premiership.

The defensive issues that dogged them in the 6-0 Champions League qualifying defeat to Club Brugge and the 2-0 home loss to Hearts have now been replaced by an inability to finish chances. Rangers have failed to score in four of their last six matches and really struggle to rally when behind in games.

Sturm Graz can be hard to peg back when they get their noses in front, but also looked devoid of ideas when they were defeated in Denmark recently, so a both teams to score no bet looks the way to go here. Sturm struggled near the foot of the Champions League standings last season, but pulled off 1-0 home wins against Girona and RB Leipzig – a scoreline that would do them nicely on Thursday.