UEFA Europa League League Stage - 4
Sturm Graz 0 - 0 FT Nottingham Forest
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
Ryan Yates 48'
57' ↓ O. Kiteishvili ↑A. Kayombo
57' ↓ M. Malone ↑S. Jatta
57' ↓ N. Geyrhofer ↑D. Lavalee
↓ J. McAtee ↑D. Ndoye 66'
73' Axel Kayombo
77' ↓ T. Horvat ↑S. Hierlander
↓ M. Gibbs-White ↑Murillo 77'
↓ A. Kalimuendo ↑Z. Abbott 77'
87' ↓ A. Malic ↑J. Mitchell
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sturm Graz
Goalkeepers
O. Christensen 
PENALTY HERO
1
Pens Saved
1
Pens Saved
1
Saves
7.5
Rating
Defenders
A. Malic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Aiwu 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.6
Rating
N. Geyrhofer 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
E. Karic 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
F. Rozga
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
T. Horvat
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
77
Entry
J. Gorenc Stankovic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Hodl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Kiteishvili
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
58
Total Mins
57
Entry
Forwards
M. Malone
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
BENCH
M. Bignetti 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
D. Khudyakov
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Mitchell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
2
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Oermann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Lavalee
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Beck
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Hierlander
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Kayombo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
32
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Jatta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Grgic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nottingham Forest
Goalkeepers
John Victor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
N. Savona
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
N. Milenkovic 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
75
Passes
10
Duels
Morato
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
89%
Duel Win %
N. Williams 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
40%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
R. Yates 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
I. Sangare
MAGNET
90
Activity
90
Activity
76
Passes
14
Duels
J. McAtee
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
66
Total Mins
66
Entry
M. Gibbs-White
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
78
Total Mins
77
Entry
N. Dominguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
A. Kalimuendo 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
M. Sels
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Willows
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Murillo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Boly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Z. Abbott
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Thompson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Hammond
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Whitehall
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Sinclair
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Ndoye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +8
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +5
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: -7
P: 4 GD: -5
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +13
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +10
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +6
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +5
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +3
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -3
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -6
P: 8 GD: -7
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 8 GD: -9
P: 8 GD: -8
P: 8 GD: -10
P: 8 GD: -11
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Barren Draw at Merkur Arena as Forest Suffer Frustration
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 9/100. An attacking siege yielded no reward for the English side as defensive resilience trumped offensive intent on a frustrating European night in Austria.
The Austrian Wall
A cautious atmosphere enveloped the Merkur Arena as Nottingham Forest looked to assert their authority away from home. The visitors controlled possession seamlessly, holding 58% of the ball during the early exchanges, but struggled to find the decisive final pass against a highly organised Sturm Graz unit. With the Stakes heavily favouring the Premier League outfit in their pursuit of Europa League progression, the hosts opted for a pragmatic approach. They sat deep, absorbed the pressure, and invited the away side to try and break through their low block. The early tempo lacked a killer edge, turning the opening phase into a tactical chess match where defensive discipline comfortably neutralized methodical build-up play.
A One-Sided Siege
As the match progressed, the sheer volume of pressure threatened to overwhelm the Austrian defence. The Intensity picked up significantly when the visitors began to overload the flanks, turning the pitch into a half-court attacking exercise. The underlying numbers laid bare a one-sided siege: an overwhelming 1.70 expected goals compared to a paltry 0.09 for the home side, backed by a 9-3 shot advantage. Neco Williams was an absolute menace down the right channel, delivering three key passes and constantly pinning the opposition full-backs deep into their own territory. On the opposite side, Morato matched that outstanding level of performance, shutting down any rare counter-attacks before they could materialize, yet the crucial breakthrough somehow remained elusive.
Stalemate and Survival
Despite peppering the penalty area with seven shots inside the box, the English side simply could not find a way past the resolute defensive line. Arjan Malić emerged as a heroic figure for the hosts, putting in a mammoth shift to clear his lines and preserve the clean sheet against relentless waves of pressure. The Balance of play heavily favoured a visiting victory, but football is rarely dictated by possession stats alone. The final whistle confirmed a goalless stalemate, leaving the away side cemented in 13th place and comfortably inside the playoff spots. Meanwhile, the hard-fought point does little to lift the hosts from 26th, but the sheer defensive grit displayed will undoubtedly serve as a massive morale boost.
Key Questions
Why did Nottingham Forest fail to win the match?
Despite generating 1.70 expected goals and controlling 58% of possession, their finishing lacked precision against a deeply entrenched defence.
Who were the standout defensive players?
Neco Williams and Morato excelled for the visitors, while Arjan Malić delivered an outstanding performance to secure the clean sheet for the hosts.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Forest Target Playoff Security as Sturm Graz Flounder
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 38/100. A severe mismatch in firepower leaves Sturm Graz clinging to survival hopes against a surging Nottingham Forest.
The Setup
Forest arrive at the Merkur Arena sitting comfortably in 13th place with their eyes firmly set on a top-eight direct qualification spot. A formidable Form rating highlights their recent surge, boasting four wins and a healthy goal difference. Conversely, the hosts are languishing in 26th, desperately needing points to claw back above the top-24 playoff line. The Stakes might read modest on paper given the disparate points tally, but survival in this European campaign hangs by a thread for the Austrian side. The heavy tilt in Balance strongly favors the visitors, whose attacking metrics far outshine a Graz unit that has netted just five times in eight outings. An off-the-charts Stars rating for the English side only deepens the gloom for the home faithful.
Key Battle
Sturm Graz's shot-stopper Oliver Christensen faces an uphill battle against Forest's relentless Igor Jesus. Christensen has been incredibly busy, racking up saves to keep his struggling side afloat, but Jesus is arriving with serious momentum. If the home side wants to take anything from this tie, their goalkeeper must deliver a flawless performance to deny Forest's leading marksman.
Our Prediction
Nottingham Forest will control the tempo from the opening whistle. Expect the visitors to exploit the spaces left by a desperate Graz side, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory to solidify their European standing.