VfL Wolfsburg are set to host SK Sturm Graz in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Europa Cup second qualifying round playoff tie. This fixture marks a significant shift for Wolfsburg, who find themselves in the Europa Cup after being eliminated from the Women’s Champions League by Inter following a penalty shootout. The German side will be keen to secure a comfortable win in front of their fans before next week’s return leg in Austria.
Wolfsburg’s European Shift and Recent Form
For the first time since their European debut in the 2012/13 season, Wolfsburg will not participate in the Women’s Champions League. This follows their unexpected exit from the premier competition. Adding to their challenges, Stephan Lerch’s side recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, ending their perfect start to the season. This result saw the seven-time Frauen-Bundesliga winners drop to third place in the league standings, now trailing FC Bayern and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Sturm Graz’s Impressive Campaign
SK Sturm Graz arrive in Germany in formidable form, currently leading the ÖFB Frauen Bundesliga standings. Tode Djaković’s team has demonstrated strong consistency, dropping only two points across seven league matches. Their path to this qualifying round was paved by a dominant 7-2 aggregate victory over Lithuanian outfit Gintra, a team that has won every league title in their domestic competition since 2005, highlighting the strength of Sturm Graz’s performance.
Anticipated Lineups
Both teams are expected to field strong starting elevens for this crucial first leg, with an eye on gaining an advantage before the return fixture.
VfL Wolfsburg’s predicted lineup features: Johannes; Linder, Kuver, Kleinherne, Bjelde; Minge (c); Zicai, Peddemors, Lattwein, Huth; Kerim-Lindland.
For SK Sturm Graz, the predicted lineup includes: Dubel; Bormans, Wattilete, Großgasteiger; Breznik, Pavlovic, Maierhofer (c), Spiess; Sipos, Keutz, Krumböck.
As Wolfsburg aim to regain momentum and Sturm Graz look to continue their impressive run on the European stage, this first leg promises an intriguing encounter in the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup. The outcome will set the tone for the decisive return leg.