Sturm Graz advances to the third Champions League qualifying round with a 2:0 win in Edinburgh

In pouring rain in Scotland, the hosts initially made the better start. Hearts pressed full attack from the very first second, pinned Sturm in their own half, and created an early chance through Altena's cross, which Braga failed to convert with his head. Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow also had to intervene in the opening minutes, saving a shot from the Polish player Wlodarczyk from around ten meters in the 16th minute; he dealt with another cross in the 38th minute.

Sturm then increasingly took control. In the 24th and 25th minutes, Seedy Jatta squandered two high-quality chances, before his would-be opening goal – after strong build-up play by Simon Seidl – was disallowed by VAR for a preceding block. Shortly after, Jatta missed another big chance, as did the Polish player Wlodarczyk in the 16th minute. Despite the best opportunities, it remained goalless at the break.

Three woodwork hits and a VAR intervention

After the break, the pressure from the Graz side kept growing. In the 64th minute, Simon Seidl converted a long clearance from goalkeeper Khudyakov – which captain Stankovic had headed on – with a powerful half-volley to make it 0:1. For the summer signing, who had already scored on his competitive debut in the ÖFB Cup, it was the first goal in a European cup match for Sturm.

Seidl breaks the deadlock – Soglo adds another

Just four minutes later, Emran Soglo added another: a shot that goalkeeper Schwolow initially saved, before the ball bounced off his own knee into the net, 0:2. Luck was also on the Austrian side for the Graz side's second goal. Soglo, also a new signing, had not initially put the ball into the net after a one-two with Wlodarczyk, but pushed the rebound over the line.

Coach Fabio Ingolitsch sent out exactly the same starting eleven that had impressed a week earlier in Graz in the 4:0 win over Hearts. The team met expectations, controlled the game in the second half, and saw out the lead comfortably. The only minor blemish from the Graz side's perspective was the yellow card for Vallci; the Scots, meanwhile, received no cautions.

Lineup and referee

The referee for the match was the Latvian Andris Treimanis. The game had already been classified beforehand as a must-win for Sturm, as the first leg had been won convincingly 4:0. Nevertheless, the Graz side put in a focused performance over 90 minutes and allowed almost nothing defensively. Goalkeeper Khudyakov only had to intervene once over the 90 minutes, when he saved a shot from Miller.

Next opponent: Fenerbahçe or Górnik Zabrze

With the aggregate score of 6:0, Sturm Graz has advanced to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. In the third qualifying round, the winner of the duel between Fenerbahçe and Górnik Zabrze now awaits. Fenerbahçe Istanbul won the first leg in Turkey 1:0; the second leg in Poland takes place on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. Only then will it be determined who the Graz side's next opponent is.

Europa League already secured

Regardless of how things go in the premier competition, Sturm has already secured a place in the Europa League league phase. The third qualifying round will be played on August 4/5 and August 11. If they are eliminated in Champions League qualifying, the Graz side would move into the Europa League league phase, securing them a guaranteed starting bonus of 4.5 million euros.

Alongside Sturm Graz, LASK is also represented internationally this season. The Austrian league and cup winners, however, only enter in the Champions League play-offs. WSG Tirol and Sturm Graz are already qualified for the league phase of a European competition. This means Austria has secured at least two fixed European cup group-stage places this season.

For Sturm Graz, it was the sixth consecutive participation in a major European competition. The Styrians had spent the previous five seasons in European competition, and now a sixth is to follow. Fabio Ingolitsch's side has put itself forward for the upcoming tasks with the clear victory against Heart of Midlothian, the Scottish runners-up.

Already on Saturday, the next competitive match is on the agenda for Sturm Graz: in the Bundesliga, the Graz side start the new season with an away game at WSG Tirol. Thus, immediately after the European trip to Edinburgh, league action begins for Fabio Ingolitsch's team, before the next international fixture comes up on August 4/5.

Outlook: league opener and international weeks

Overall, Fabio Ingolitsch's side delivered a mature performance in the pouring rain of Edinburgh. In front of just under 20,000 spectators at Tynecastle Park, which was almost completely full, Sturm Graz put in a focused display and took their chances cold-bloodedly in the second half. The Graz fans celebrated their team exuberantly after the final whistle.

With the progression to the third qualifying round, Sturm Graz's international goal for the season has not yet been achieved. Should the team also prevail in the next round, the Champions League league phase beckons. Otherwise, participation in the Europa League is already secured – which would be a success for the club both financially and sportingly.