Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz preview: predictions, probable lineups, team news, betting odds and bet builder tips for Thursday's Europa League clash.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Match Summary
Competition | Europa League |
|---|---|
Match Date | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
Match Time | 20:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Vitality Stadium |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | TNT Sports 1 |
Bournemouth stage the first major European home match in the club's history when Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz kicks off in the Europa League at the Vitality Stadium on Thursday.
Bournemouth won at Real Sociedad earlier in this Europa League campaign, but back-to-back defeats against elite opposition have since knocked the swagger out of Marco Rose's side.
Sturm Graz arrive on the back of a 2-0 win at Austria Wien, having drawn with Rennes and been beaten by RB Salzburg before that.
The betting odds make the hosts heavy favourites here, and anything short of a home win would turn a bad week into a worrying one.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Form
The European picture is decent enough after a win at Real Sociedad, but the domestic one is grim. Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday, the second of back-to-back defeats against elite opposition. Evanilson remains the focal point up front and needs to drag them out of the rut.
Sturm Graz played out a goalless draw with Rennes earlier in this Europa League campaign, then lost 3-0 to RB Salzburg. They responded by winning at Austria Wien in the Austrian Bundesliga, with Oumar Diakité scoring twice. He is the man in form, but one good afternoon does not make Sturm a threat at this level.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Bournemouth: Alex Scott (Injured/out), Justin Kluivert (Injured/out)
SK Sturm Graz: N. Weiper (Injured/out), Gizo Mamageishvili (Injured/out), O. Kiteishvili (Injured/out), F. Rózga (Injured/out)
Bournemouth
Alex Scott and Justin Kluivert are both set to miss out. Lewis Cook was named on the bench against Chelsea and comes into the probable XI beside Adams in the engine room, while Marco Rose is otherwise expected to stick with the same group that started at Stamford Bridge.
SK Sturm Graz
Oumar Diakité's brace at Austria Wien looks set to earn him a start alongside Beganovic in a probable 3-5-2. Gizo Mamageishvili is among four confirmed absentees, with Weiper, Kiteishvili and Rózga also ruled out.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Predicted Lineup
Bournemouth
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert; Adams, Cook; Brooks, Rayan, Tavernier; Evanilson
SK Sturm Graz
Formation: 3-5-2 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Khudyakov; Koller, Quarshie, Vallci; Heil, Stankovic, Matoshi, Weinhandl, Balbo; Beganovic, Diakité
Check out all the latest oddschecker Free Bets & Sign-Up Offers for Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Bournemouth win comfortably and keep a clean sheet. The Chelsea mauling was ugly, but this is a very different level of opponent, and the projection has the visitors down for just 0.70 goals. Bournemouth at 1/6 (Coral) is far too short to be worth backing on its own, so we look elsewhere for value.
Best Bets
Both Teams To Score: No. Bournemouth are heavy favourites and Sturm Graz are projected to score well under one goal. The projection puts the hosts on 2.63 goals and gives both teams scoring an implied probability below half, so No is the stronger side of this market. Sturm failed to score against Rennes, and they will find a Bournemouth side desperate to tighten up after Stamford Bridge.
Total Goals: Under 3.5. The projected total of 3.33 goals sits just under this line, and it fits neatly with the clean sheet angle. If Sturm draw a blank, Bournemouth need four on their own to beat it, which makes this our pick to pair alongside the BTTS angle above.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Bet Builder
Our Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz bet builder tips combine a home win, Evanilson to score anytime, No in both teams to score and Arjan Malic to be shown a card.
Bournemouth to win carries a 78% probability, the highest-rated selection on the card. Rose wants a reaction, and a home win over weaker opposition is the obvious way to deliver it.
Evanilson to score anytime carries a 54.47% probability. He leads the line in the probable XI and will be the man Bournemouth's creators look for all night.
No in both teams to score ties in with Sturm being projected well under a goal, and Bournemouth will be desperate to stay tight after conceding five at Chelsea.
Arjan Malic to be shown a card carries a 30.78% probability, adding some price to the bet builder without leaning any further on the result.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 10/1 and is as short as 15/2 elsewhere.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Talking Points
Marco Rose called the Chelsea defeat a "real slap" and has demanded an immediate, aggressive response, which is exactly what Sturm will not want to walk into. Fabio Ingolitsch's side are no strangers to European football, but travel has been their weak spot. Their previous continental campaign brought defeat in all four of their European away matches. A Stamford Bridge hangover is the only real argument for the visitors, and we are not buying it.
Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz Predictions FAQs
When is the Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz game?
The match kicks off at 20:00 UK time on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Where is Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz being played?
The match is being played at the Vitality Stadium.
Where can I watch Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz?
The match is listed on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
What competition is Bournemouth vs SK Sturm Graz in?
It is a Europa League match.
Disclaimer
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