“We wanted to come back from Lodz with a result that gives us a realistic chance for the second leg. The result says it all. I’m confident,” explained Ilzer before the second leg. The strengths of the guests have not only been known since the first leg. “Kyiv is a top team when they have the ball and every single player has the highest quality and problem-solving skills on the ball,” Ilzer analyzed the 16-time Ukrainian champions.
In the first leg in the Polish alternate quarters, Sturm found the game well and created a number of good chances before Olexandr Karawajew scored the only goal in the 28th minute. After the break, the Ukrainians routinely brought the lead over time.
Sturm hopes for home advantage
With a full stadium behind them and the necessary efficiency in front of goal, Sturm Graz wants to make it into the Champions League play-off against Dynamo Kyiv.
“Kyiv is very resistant to pressure. They were very clever against us in the second half. We have to be sharper in our pressing, get a few more percent across to get into the areas where we can hurt Kyiv. And it is also very important that we are efficient,” Ilzer pointed out.
Salzburg game as a role model
The Sturm coach wants to put a lot of pressure and intensity on his team right from the start, just like they did in the league win over defending champions Red Bull Salzburg. “But there is also an opponent. It depends on whether we have the strength to take over dominance like we did in Salzburg. Our basic idea is always the offensive,” emphasized the 44-year-old.
The fact that Dynamo Kyiv cannot contest a championship due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is not a disadvantage for the eleven of 77-year-old Mircea Lucescu, Ilzer was convinced. The Graz coach referred to many friendlies against strong opponents such as Borussia Dortmund and Olympique Lyon and meanwhile three qualifying games in the Champions League. “Kyiv is absolutely in the rhythm of the game,” he clarified.
Kyiv coach knows Graz
Dynamo coach Lucescu is still facing some problems. “The most difficult thing is that the players are missing family and their children. But we’re all professionals,” said the 77-year-old. Since the beginning of the war at the end of February, the team has moved together almost continuously, and since the beginning of July they have been training in Uniejov, an hour from Lodz in central Poland.
Champions League, third qualifying round, second leg
Beginning 8.30 p.m. (live on ORF1)
Sturm Graz – Dynamo Kyiv
Graz, Merkur Arena SR Kruzliak (SVK)
Possible lineups:
Sturm: Siebenhandl – Gazibegovic, Wüthrich, Affengruber, Dante – Gorenc-Stankovic – Hierländer, T. Horvat, Prass – Sarkaria, Höjlund
Kyiv: Buschchan – Kedziora, Sabarny, Popow, Dubintschak – Shaparenko, Sidortschuk – Karavajew, Buyalsky, Schepeljew – Besedin
First leg 0-1 – promoted play-off vs winners from Midtjylland v Benfica Lisbon (first leg 1-4)
“It’s not an easy situation, but we still have to laugh – life goes on,” emphasized Lucescu, who was a guest in the Champions League in Graz with Inter Milan 1998 and Galatasaray Istanbul 2000. While Lucescu celebrated a 2-0 win with Inter, they suffered a then sensational 3-0 defeat with Galatasaray. The legendary coach expects a difficult game again this time. “Qualifying games are different from the group stage,” said the Romanian. “Sturm Graz is a good team – young, motivated, with great enthusiasm.”
“Super scenery” gives a boost
Ilzer still has to do without Jakob Jantscher, who could be available again for the weekend, and Otar Kiteishvili, who will be absent for a longer period. There will be loud support for this from the ranks, as of Monday afternoon 12,150 tickets have been sold, including 650 made available to Ukrainians. “The great scenery that is to be expected releases additional energy,” said Gregory Wüthrich happily.
The Swiss defender, like his coach, is confident that he and his colleagues can still turn the duel with Kyiv. “We know what to do, we have a clear game plan. We will play for the first goal as early as possible without giving them space. We have to be braver (than in the first leg, note), we lacked the last bit of vigor, tomorrow it will look different,” explained Wüthrich.
Benfica as likely opponents
Sturm want to return to the group stage of the premier class for the fourth time and for the first time since the 2000/01 season. Ilzer was there as a fan back then, now he wants to experience the feeling of being on the sidelines as a coach. The first thing to do is to eliminate Dynamo Kyiv and then probably Benfica Lisbon. The Portuguese clearly won the first leg against Danish representatives Midtjylland 4-1 in the third qualifying round and would – even if everything goes according to plan in the event of a storm – on 16/17. August to be a guest in the first game in Graz.
