UEFA Europa League Gameweek 2
Sturm Graz 2 - 1 FT Rangers
Popular today
Most read in the last 24 hours
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
7' T. Horvat (M. Malone)
35' O. Kiteishvili (T. Horvat)
HT
↓ J. Meghoma ↑M. Aarons 46'
↓ O. Antman ↑B. Miovski 46'
D. Gassama (N. Raskin) 49'
59' ↓ B. Beganovic ↑J. Hodl
68' Tim Oermann
↓ C. Barron ↑J. Rothwell 68'
73' ↓ M. Malone ↑S. Jatta
73' ↓ T. Oermann ↑J. Mitchell
73' ↓ O. Kiteishvili ↑L. Grgic
Derek Cornelius 75'
↓ D. Cornelius ↑M. Moore 79'
↓ T. Aasgaard ↑Danilo Pereira 83'
83' ↓ T. Horvat ↑N. Geyrhofer
90'+4 Emir Karić
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sturm Graz
Goalkeepers
Oliver Christensen 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Tim Oermann 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Emanuel Aiwu
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Dimitri Lavalée
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Emir Karić 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Jon Gorenc Stankovič
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tochi Chukwuani
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Tomi Horvat
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
Otar Kiteishvili 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Belmin Beganović 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
Maurice Malone
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
12%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Christoph Wiener-Pucher 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Matteo Bignetti
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jeyland Mitchell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabriel Haider
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Niklas Geyrhofer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Julius Beck
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Stefan Hierländer
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luca Weinhandl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jacob Hödl
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seedy Jatta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Leon Grgić
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rangers
Goalkeepers
Jack Butland
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
James Tavernier
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
60%
Pass Acc
John Souttar 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
70%
Duel Win %
Derek Cornelius
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Jayden Meghoma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Midfielders
Nicolas Raskin 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6
Rating
Connor Barron
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Oliver Antman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Thelo Aasgaard
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Djeidi Gassama
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Forwards
Youssef Chermiti
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Liam Kelly
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kieran Wright
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Max Aarons
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nasser Djiga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Joe Rothwell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lyall Cameron
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bailey Rice
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Findlay Curtis
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aiden McCallion
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bojan Miovski
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mikey Moore
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Danilo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
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
Sturm Graz
Rangers
Sturm Graz
Rangers
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Sturm Graz Survive Rangers Siege Thanks to Christensen Masterclass
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 42/100. A relentless barrage of shots couldn't break Oliver Christensen as Sturm Graz clung on for a vital European victory.
Lightning Start at Merkur Arena
Sturm Graz burst out of the gates at Merkur Arena, immediately putting the visitors on the back foot. The Intensity of their early press paid off almost instantly when T. Horvat found the back of the net in the seventh minute. Rather than sitting on their lead, the Austrian side kept looking for vertical opportunities. While Rangers began to see more of the ball, they were caught cold again before the break. A clinical strike from O. Kiteishvili in the 35th minute doubled the home advantage, leaving the Scottish outfit reeling. The hosts executed their game plan perfectly in this opening phase, soaking up pressure while delivering devastating blows on the counter to establish a commanding two-goal cushion heading into the dressing room.
Gassama Ignites the Scottish Hope
The second half demanded a massive response from the visitors, and they delivered exactly that immediately after the restart. Just four minutes into the second period, D. Gassama struck to completely shift the Balance of the tie. This crucial goal injected sudden belief into the Scottish side, turning the match into a true battle of wills. From that moment, the away side controlled possession, holding 59% of the ball and initiating wave after wave of attacks. They pinned their opponents deep in their own half, forcing a staggering ten corners as the pressure mounted. The tactical landscape completely transformed, moving from a comfortable home procession into a desperate, backs-to-the-wall survival mission for the hosts as the hour mark approached.
A Goalkeeping Clinic Under Pressure
What followed was an absolute shooting gallery, with a combined 32 shots defining a frantic conclusion. The true hero of the night emerged between the sticks for the home side. Oliver Christensen put on an unforgettable goalkeeping clinic, racking up ten massive saves to repeatedly deny the Scottish onslaught. The sheer volume of chances—18 shots on target between the two teams—highlighted the massive Stakes for both clubs lingering in the lower half of the Europa League table. Despite the relentless late pressure and the visitors' dominance of the ball, that early double punch proved just enough. The Austrian side clung to their 2-1 victory, securing three golden points while leaving their opponents frustrated by a heroic individual performance.
Key Questions
What made Oliver Christensen the Man of the Match?
With 10 crucial saves against a barrage of Rangers shots, he single-handedly preserved Sturm Graz's narrow lead throughout a chaotic second half.
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.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Desperation Takes Centre Stage in Graz
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 6/100. Our verdict is clear: this is a gritty basement battle to salvage fading European hopes rather than a footballing spectacle, making it one for the purists of struggle.
The Setup
Rangers travel to the Merkur Arena on October 02, 2025, with both sides languishing near the bottom of the Europa League table. Sturm Graz sit 26th on seven points, while the visitors are down in 32nd with just four. The Stakes are sky-high; this is a genuine European six-pointer for a chance to scrape into the top-24 playoff line. A poor Form rating for both sides—Rangers arriving with six losses in eight games, and Graz managing just two wins all competition—points to a cagey, low-quality affair. There is a distinct lack of Stars on display to light up the pitch, though Jack Butland has been heroic in goal for the visitors, boasting a strong recent rating. With Balance tipping slightly towards the hosts purely on points, expect a nervous clash where fear dictates the tempo.
Tactical Battle
With confidence low in both camps, the midfield scrap will dictate proceedings. The home engine room must try to disrupt a fragile away defence that has already leaked 14 goals. Expect a disjointed, physical unit-versus-unit battle where forcing turnovers out wide will be far more effective than intricate passing through the centre.
Our Prediction
We expect a tense, low-scoring draw. A 0-0 or 1-1 seems highly probable, as the fear of losing and slipping entirely out of playoff contention outweighs the ambition to push forward. Both teams lack the attacking cohesion to put the game to bed decisively.