Read our prediction for Sturm Graz vs SV Innsbruck below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Sturm Graz vs SV Innsbruck and you can increase your winnings!
Sturm Graz vs SV Innsbruck Prediction & Betting tips
Before club football takes a short break and the kick-off for the UEFA Nations League takes place, the 2020/21 season in Austria starts with the first round of the ÖFB Cup. Usually the underdog has home rights. Due to the current situation, however, this regulation does not apply and if the underdog cannot present a practicable security concept, the team must be away from home.
Due to the fact that most of the underdogs now have to compete abroad, surprises are probably even rarer. The Friday evening game will take place in the Merkur Arena – Bundesliga team Sturm Graz will receive SV Innsbruck.
Although, according to the Ministry of Health, events with more than 1,250 people will not be allowed until September 1, Sturm received from the local authorities permission to let up to 7,000 spectators into the stadium for this cup game. The presented safety concept with separated sectors and arrangement of the seats in a chessboard pattern is intended to serve as a trial gallop for the Bundesliga start.
With the return of the fans, more “football feeling” is returning. The anticipation is great and Sturm would like to be able to celebrate a positive start at Christian Ilzer’s coaching debut.
Sturm Graz:
Since Franco Foda left the Blackies in 2017 and accepted the post as ÖFB team boss, the Styrians have not had much luck with their coaches. Despite great advance praise, Nestor El Maestro did not even survive a whole season as a storm coach, three rounds before the end the cooperation was ended due to poor results, catastrophic performances and one or the other scandal.
Christian Ilzer was presented as his successor, who announced his move just a few hours after missing the EL qualification with Wiener Austria. The disappointment in the violet camp about his departure was limited. In his Styrian homeland, Ilzer wants to build on the great successes he achieved with Hartberg (promotion) and WAC (third place, first EL qualification).
After years of disappointment, Sturm now wants to build on the old successes. The qualification for Europe is the declared goal of the “Blackies”, who were able to strengthen the defense. With Gorenc-Stankovic and Wüthrich, two promising central defenders were directed to Graz. Full-back Ingolitsch and winger Kuen can also be rated as strong new signings.
After the 2019/20 season ended with a series of defeats (six bankruptcies in a row), there was also a narrow 0-1 defeat in the first test match against the Hungarian champions Ferencvaros. However, the Hungarians only kicked Celtic out of the Champions League this week.
In the three other preparation games, the Graz team celebrated two wins and achieved a draw against the Czech first division club Opava. With five goals in three games, the much-scolded offensive was able to regain self-confidence, and this positive feeling should now be reinforced against a fourth division team. A clear success is expected and accordingly between Sturm Graz and SV Innsbruck a prognosis for a handicap success is quite obvious.
SV Innsbruck:
The Innsbruck sports club is the oldest football club in western Austria. The club was founded in 1905 and was considered a founding member of the predecessor of today’s Tyrolean Football Association. In the club’s well over 100-year history, the club celebrated its greatest success in 1979, when it won the championship title in the Alpine League.
In contrast to the two professional leagues, the 2019/20 season in the amateur sector was canceled after the lockdown and completely canceled. A decision that did not cause any cheering, especially among the supporters of the SVI. Head coach Martin Hofbauer’s team played an outstanding season and was the clear number one in the Tyrolean league – the fourth division.
With twelve wins, one draw and only two defeats, the team ranked first and already had a comfortable seven-point lead over the runners-up from Fügen.
In view of the performances shown, the promotion to the Regionalliga Tirol would have been only a matter of form. Due to the cancellation, the SVI will play in league four for another year. The participation in the Austrian cup competition is the reward for an outstanding 2019/20 season.
The SVI squad consists largely of very young players. In total, only three actors are older than 25 years. For the young team, a duel with a Bundesliga club is the biggest game in the club’s history.
However, the self-confidence is not necessarily great, because the start in the Tyrolean league did not go as desired. After two games there is only a meager counter on the credit side and so far the Innsbruckers have not been able to build on the strong previous year’s performance. In view of these findings, a prognosis for a sensation between Sturm Graz and SV Innsbruck is not recommended.