Preview: Sturm Graz vs. NS Mura - prediction, team news, lineups

After a 3-1 win in the away leg, Sturm Graz will welcome NS Mura to Austria on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League playoff tie.

Thursday's hosts overturned a deficit to bring a two-goal lead into the home leg and will look to defend that to complete the job.

Match preview

Last season's third-placed finish in the Austrian Bundesliga meant that, while they narrowly missed out on the qualification phase for the Champions League, Sturm Graz instead enter the playoff round of the Europa League, meaning just one two-legged encounter stands between them and the group stage.

They were handed a tie with Slovenian outfit NS Mura, and despite going behind in the first five minutes, Christian Ilzer's side eventually took charge as Jakob Jantscher hit the equaliser from the penalty spot in the 18th minute before Otar Kiteishvili put them ahead on the hour mark.

Kelvin Yeboah immediately found the net to double the Austrian side's lead and give them a cushion heading into the home leg, extending their impressive start to the season.

Ilzer's men have quickly established themselves at the top end of the Austrian Bundesliga again this season, bouncing back from an opening defeat to defending champions Red Bull Salzburg with consecutive victories over Wolfsberger, Altach and LASK Linz before they earned a creditable point last time out.

Following the first-leg victory, Sturm Graz met with Austria Vienna in league action on Sunday, and the encounter finished 2-2 as Manprit Sarkaria and Yeboah found the net before Marco Djuricin hit his second of the game to draw their opponents level.

They will now look to continue their impressive run of form with a result to see them pass through to the Europa League group stage, although their lead will come under fire when NS Mura arrive.

The visitors make the trip with the difficult task of overturning a two-goal deficit, as Ziga Skoflek's early goal was not enough to earn a result in the home leg.

After crashing out of the Champions League qualifying phase following a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ludogorets Razgrad, Mura reached this stage thanks to a narrow win over Lithuanian side Zalgiris in the third qualifying round, as Ziga Cous hit the only goal in a 1-0 away win after the home leg ended goalless.

Having won the Slovenian top flight last season, Ante Simundza's men will be keen to reap the rewards and earn European football this season, but they will know that they have a major task at hand if they are to progress.

Team News

Ilzer is likely to field a very similar Sturm Graz XI to the one that picked up a 3-1 win in Slovenia in the opening leg, with Jusuf Gazibegovic, David Affengruber, Gregory Wuthrich and Amadou Dante forming the back four.

The line will be led by Jakob Jantscher and Kelvin Yeboah, after both got on the scoresheet in the first leg, while Yeboah has now hit five goals in the last four games in all competitions.

They will be supported by plenty of attacking quality from midfield, with the likes of Manprit Sarkaria and Otar Kiteishvili offering threat in front of goal.

Despite being shown a red card in their recent league win over Celje, NS Mura defender Jan Gorenc will be available for Thursday's clash, with the suspension instead carrying over to their next domestic outing.

Ziga Skoflek will again lead the line after hitting an early opener in the first leg, while Stanisa Mandic and Amadej Marosa could both be deployed from the start given their need for goals.

Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Siebenhand; Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Wuthrich, Dante; Stankovic; Kiteishvili, Hierlander; Sarkaria; Jantscher, Yeboah

NS Mura possible starting lineup:
Obradovic; Karnicnik, Marusko, Gorenc; Kous, Horvat, Kozar, Sturm; Mandic, Skoflek, Marosa

We say: Sturm Graz 2-0 NS Mura (Strum Graz win 5-1 on aggregate)

The Austrian outfit came into the clash as favourites, and we do not see NS Mura springing any surprises, especially as they already trail by two goals.

The visitors will certainly push for goals, but Ilzer's men boast more quality and should pick them off on the break to gain a more comfortable lead and book their spot in the group stage of the Europa League.