1:0 against Girona FC
SK Sturm Graz against FC Girona from 18:45 LIVE
It's done: SK Sturm Graz have scored their first points in the current Champions League at the fifth attempt - their first treble since a 2:1 win at Panathinaikos Athens on February 20, 2001!
In the second game under interim coach Jürgen Säumel, the champions won 1:0 (0:0) against last year's third-placed Spanish side Girona on Wednesday. In the Wörthersee Stadium in Klagenfurt, Mika Biereth scored the decisive goal in the 59th minute.
It was Sturm's first European Cup success against a Spanish club at the seventh attempt. Sturm were also delighted to receive a prize money of 2.1 million euros. Sturm will continue in the top flight with an away match in Lille on December 11.
Ahead of their third home appearance in the top flight, Säumel opted for the tried and tested in front of 21,502 spectators. Four days after the 7:0 scoring feast against Klagenfurt, only the 20-year-old Russian Daniil Chudjakow stood in for Kjell Scherpen, who had already taken a break due to knee surgery. In the stands, the fans once again showed their displeasure at Graz's stadium misery.
Girona failed to score an empty goal
Girona had arrived with the self-confidence of three league wins in a row and, as expected, the Spaniards showed their ball security in the opening minutes and were reluctant to give up possession. Khudjakov, however, remained untested.
Emanuel Aiwu's most dangerous move saw him push the ball over the bar with his thigh (13'). Sturm's first approach was a shot from William Böving, but Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was not taken by surprise (19').
Sturm were extremely lucky after 22 minutes. Ivan Martin shot over the empty goal from one meter out, ideally served by the tricky Bryan Gil, and could not believe his "feat". Graz barely got over the halfway line during this phase. The hope remained that their opponents would make mistakes. One such mistake was made by veteran Daley Blind. Böving was on the move again, but the Dane was unable to get the ball on target (31').
The move gave Sturm more courage and the Styrians were able to open up the game. At the break, the home side also recorded three shots on goal. Girona had not a single one. Jusuf Gazibegovic received a yellow card and will therefore be suspended in Lille.
Biereth broke Sturm's goal drought
The game continued unchanged after the break. Sturm remained unpleasant, present in the duels and rewarded themselves: After a beautifully executed advance via Böving and Chukwuani, Seedy Jatta created space for himself, Gazzaniga could only parry the shot briefly and Biereth dusted it off. It was the first goal ever scored by a professional striker in the current Champions League. Sturm had scored an own goal in the 2-1 defeat to Brest on the first matchday.
Girona's Alejandro Frances failed to reply promptly before fresh players came on at both ends. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Säumel brought on Jon Gorenc Stankovic for Biereth, who had been out since the end of September, to provide more stability in defense.
Girona pressed for an equalizer, but Sturm defended successfully in their own penalty area. In stoppage time, veteran Cristhian Stuani headed past the goalkeeper before Sturm were finally able to celebrate in the Champions League.
The result:
SK Sturm Graz - FC Girona 1:0 (0:0)
Klagenfurt, Wörthersee Stadion, 21,502 spectators, SR Saggi (NOR)
Goal: 1:0 (59.) Biereth
Yellow cards: Gazibegovic (suspended next match) and Gil
Storm: Khudjakov - Gazibegovic, Aiwu, Geyrhofer, Lavalee - Chukwuani - Yalcouye (65. Horvat), Kiteishvili, Böving (90. Hierländer) - Biereth (76. Gorenc Stankovic), Jatta (65. Yardimci)
Girona: Gazzaniga - Frances (73. Solis), Juanpe, Krejci, Blind (67. Danjuma) - Romeu - Zyhankow (73. Ruiz), Martin (52. Asprilla), Gutierrez, Gil - Miovski (67. Stuani)
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