Sturm Graz v Rangers match preview
Reigning Austrian champions Sturm Graz warmed up for their home game against Rangers in nerve-shredding style on Sunday, winning a derby against visitors Hartberg 1-0 through Dominic Vincze’s 95th-minute own-goal.
The result puts Jurgen Saumel’s team two points behind leaders Rapid Vienna with a game in hand, and their focus is now on earning their first Europa League points following a 2-0 defeat at Midtjylland in their opener on September 24.
“They’re a very, very strong team individually – especially on the wings,” left-back Emir Karic said of Rangers, who lost 1-0 at home to Genk on Matchday 1.
“We have a plan and no-one needs to worry about us going in unprepared. [The Merkur Arena] is always a real cauldron.”
Rangers manager Russell Martin remains under considerable pressure but earned his first Scottish Premiership win at the sixth attempt with a 2-1 victory at Livingston on Sunday.
“It is another different challenge, another European night and another chance to have a brilliant night together,” said Martin.
“I am looking forward to it, especially off the back of a good feeling in the group after Sunday. [We] showed a lot of character, dug in together and showed a lot of spirit, a lot of fight and a willingness to run.
“That spirit has really increased over the last three or four weeks. We are going to try to come [to Sturm] and turn the game into one we want.”
Sturm Graz v Rangers team news
Georgia international Otar Kiteishvili has been back in training for Sturm Graz, having missed two games because the midfielder returned to his homeland for personal reasons.
Kiteishvili has been the Austrian Bundesliga player of the season for the last two campaigns and has five goals and one assist in eight club appearances in 2025/26.
Goalkeeper Daniil Khudyakov (wrist), winger Axel Kayombo (ankle) and centre-back Arjan Malic (calf) are out injured, while defenders Kristjan Bendra and Aleksandar Borkovic are ineligible.
Right-back Dujon Sterling is yet to return for Rangers from an Achilles injury sustained in April and midfielder Mohamed Diomande is suspended.
Sturm Graz v Rangers predicted line-ups
Sturm Graz starting XI: Oliver Christtensen, Tim Oermann, Emanuel Aiwu, Dimitri Lavalee, Emir Karic, Jacob Peter Hodl, Jonc Stankovic, Tomi Horvat, Tochi Chukwuani, Seedy Jatta, Otar Kiteishvili
Rangers starting XI: Jack Butland, James Tavernier, John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Jayden Meghoma, Oliver Antman, Mikey Mooore, Nicolas Raskin, Thelo Aasgaard, Djeidi Gassa, Djeidi Gassa, Youssef Criti
How to watch Sturm v Rangers: TV channel, online live streams
The match kicks off at 20:00 BST (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT) on Thursday and is being shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2.
TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through discovery+which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
