Sturm Graz vs Hearts Prediction, Preview and Stats

Europe flag 2026/2027 Champions League, Europe
Merkur Arena Wed, 22 Jul - 12:00 AM
Champions League
Sturm Graz STU
Versus
Hearts Hearts
KICKOFF : Wed, 22 Jul - 12:00 AM
2nd Qualifying Round Leg 1 of 2

CONTEXT

Sturm Graz welcome Hearts to the Merkur Arena for the opening leg of their Champions League second qualifying round tie. The Scottish visitors carry a modest overall power advantage of 4.4 points and are rated the stronger side on current metrics. Both clubs lack recent form indicators, leaving tactical preparation and squad depth as primary variables. Home advantage at the familiar venue offers Sturm Graz a platform to impose structure early, while Hearts will seek to exploit transitions and maintain defensive organisation. Limited efficiency and set-piece data add uncertainty to expected patterns of play. The encounter marks an important early test in the international cup campaign for both teams during the 2026/2027 season.

TL;DR

  • Structural: Sturm Graz host Hearts at Merkur Arena in the first leg of a Champions League second qualifying round tie.
  • Form: Both teams enter without available recent form scores or last outing results.
  • Squad: Detailed squad information is not provided in the current metrics.
  • Efficiency: Efficiency data remains unavailable for both Sturm Graz and Hearts.
  • Transition: Transition metrics are not supplied for analysis in this fixture.
  • Set pieces: Set piece data shows low confidence with proxy values used due to unavailable xG.
  • xVariable: Hearts hold a 4.4 point power advantage over Sturm Graz.
  • Market: Baseline split: Sturm Graz 0% (Δ+0%) | Draw 0% (Δ+0%) | Hearts 0% (Δ+0%).
No standings statistics available.
No head-to-head records found.
0.5+ goals: 85%
1.5+ goals: 70%
2.5+ goals: 50%
3.5+ goals: 25%
Confidence: High (≥8 matches)

Quality vs Volume

Home: xG 1.8, Shots 12, xG/Shot 0.15
Away: xG 1.5, Shots 14, xG/Shot 0.11

Open Play vs Set Play

Open Play: 65%
Set Play: 35%

Expected Points

TeamxPts
Home1.8
Away1.2
ℹ️ Methodology: Expected Goals (xG) measures shot quality
Jan 25 vs Team A
Feb 1 vs Team B
Feb 8 vs Team C
Sturm Graz F. Ingolitsch
F. Ingolitsch
VS
Hearts W. Vrancken
W. Vrancken
0
Avg Points / Game (Last 100 Matches)
0
0 i
Avg Points / Game (Last 6 Matches)
0 i
0
Head to Head (Wins - Draws - Losses)
0 - 0 - 0
0
No sidelined player data available.

Win Probabilities

Live Win Probability (90 Min)
Home Sturm Graz
0%
Draw
0%
Away Hearts
0%

Team Power Ranking

i
What is Power Ranking?
Power ranking is SportMonks' model-based team strength indicator. Historical input capped to 2 seasons.
71.38
75.79
0 (Weakest) 100 (Strongest)
Metric
Sturm Graz
Hearts
Power Score
71.38
75.79
League Position
-
-
Global Rank
208
126

Form Analysis Opponent-Weighted

Line chart of recent results (points/trend). Friendlies excluded by default. Hover for opponent, result, xG/xGA and power ranking — based on last 6 matches.

–
vs
Sturm Graz — Opponent-weighted form score
Hearts — Opponent-weighted form score
Win (3 pts) Draw (1 pt) Loss (0 pts) Sturm Graz Hearts

Team Head to Head Last 6 Seasons

Summary of 0 matches between these sides — filtered by competition and venue context.

Sturm Graz STU Home
0 matches
Hearts Hearts Away
Match Record
0
Wins
0
0
Draws
0
0
Losses
0
Goals
0
Goals Scored
0
0
Goals Conceded
0
0
Goal Difference
0

Data last updated: 2026-07-17T00:09:15+00:00

TEAM FORMATION

Official lineups and formations are usually announced 60–90 minutes before kickoff. Check back closer to the match to see the starting XIs here.

General Information

Date & Time :
Jul 22, 2026, 12:00 AM
Competition :
2026/2027 Champions League, Europe · 2nd Qualifying Round · Leg 1 of 2
Stadium :
Merkur Arena
Capacity :
16764
Pitch Surface :
Grass
Weather :
☀️ 12°C, Fair

Squad

Squad ▼

22
Ammar Helac
Ammar Helac Goalkeeper
53
Daniil Khudyakov
Daniil Khudyakov Goalkeeper
41
Elias Lorenz
Elias Lorenz Goalkeeper
5
Albert Vallci
Albert Vallci Defender
47
Emanuel Aiwu
Emanuel Aiwu Defender
35
Niklas Geyrhofer
Niklas Geyrhofer Defender
30
Paul-Friedrich Koller
Paul-Friedrich Koller Defender
2
Jeyland Mitchell
Jeyland Mitchell Defender
—
David Reinhold Burger
David Reinhold Burger Defender
23
Arjan Malic
Arjan Malic Defender
18
Emran Gamal Marwan Soglo
Emran Gamal Marwan Soglo Defender
21
Petar Petrović
Petar Petrović Defender
4
Jon Gorenc Stankovič
Jon Gorenc Stankovič Midfielder
10
Otar Kiteishvili
Otar Kiteishvili Midfielder
28
Jürgen Heil
Jürgen Heil Midfielder
80
Ryan Fosso
Ryan Fosso Midfielder
15
Gizo Mamageishvili
Gizo Mamageishvili Midfielder
19
Simon Seidl
Simon Seidl Midfielder
43
Jacob Peter Hödl
Jacob Peter Hödl Midfielder
8
Filip Jan Rózga
Filip Jan Rózga Midfielder
39
Luca Weinhandl
Luca Weinhandl Midfielder
77
Maurice Malone
Maurice Malone Attacker
20
Seedy Jatta
Seedy Jatta Attacker
17
Szymon Włodarczyk
Szymon Włodarczyk Attacker
26
Belmin Beganovic
Belmin Beganovic Attacker
32
Peter Kiedl
Peter Kiedl Attacker
9
Leon Grgic
Leon Grgic Attacker
11
Axel Kayombo
Axel Kayombo Attacker
36
Amady Camara
Amady Camara Attacker

Squad ▼

30
Ryan Fulton
Ryan Fulton Goalkeeper
1
Alexander Schwolow
Alexander Schwolow Goalkeeper
28
Zander Clark
Zander Clark Goalkeeper
—
Liam MacFarlane
Liam MacFarlane Goalkeeper
3
Stephen Kingsley
Stephen Kingsley Defender
17
Stuart Findlay
Stuart Findlay Defender
5
Jamie Mccart
Jamie Mccart Defender
4
Craig Halkett
Craig Halkett Defender
18
Harry Milne
Harry Milne Defender
2
Christian Dahle Borchgrevink
Christian Dahle Borchgrevink Defender
64
Malachi Fagan-Walcott
Malachi Fagan-Walcott Defender
32
Adam Forrester
Adam Forrester Defender
24
Michael-John Kamson-Kamara
Michael-John Kamson-Kamara Defender
23
Jordi Altena
Jordi Altena Defender
16
Blair Spittal
Blair Spittal Midfielder
7
Calvin Miller
Calvin Miller Midfielder
27
Sander Erik Kartum
Sander Erik Kartum Midfielder
12
Tom Renaud
Tom Renaud Midfielder
31
Yan Dhanda
Yan Dhanda Midfielder
22
Tómas Bent Magnússon
Tómas Bent Magnússon Midfielder
6
Oisin McEntee
Oisin McEntee Midfielder
33
Finlay Pollock
Finlay Pollock Midfielder
25
Macauley Tait
Macauley Tait Midfielder
8
Eduardo Ageu Almeida Santos
Eduardo Ageu Almeida Santos Midfielder
—
Cormac Daly
Cormac Daly Midfielder
20
Elton Daniël Kabangu
Elton Daniël Kabangu Attacker
—
Amadou Ba-Sy
Amadou Ba-Sy Attacker
—
Pierre Landry Kabore
Pierre Landry Kabore Attacker
11
Joshua McPake
Joshua McPake Attacker
89
Alexandros Kiziridis
Alexandros Kiziridis Attacker
10
Cláudio Rafael Soares Braga
Cláudio Rafael Soares Braga Attacker
19
Severin Sabri Guendouz
Severin Sabri Guendouz Attacker
74
Rogers Mato
Rogers Mato Attacker
21
James Wilson
James Wilson Attacker
29
Sabah Kerjota
Sabah Kerjota Attacker

CONCLUSION

Hearts arrive with a narrow power edge that could influence proceedings if they control midfield and limit Sturm Graz opportunities. The home side must use venue familiarity to establish early rhythm and test the visitors defensively. Absence of recent form data places greater emphasis on preparation and in-game adjustments by both coaches. Set-piece situations may prove decisive given the low-confidence metrics available, requiring disciplined organisation from each defence. Hearts will aim to manage the occasion and secure a positive result on the road, while Sturm Graz seek to capitalise on home support to gain an advantage ahead of the return fixture. Overall balance suggests a closely contested opener.

Sturm Graz vs Hearts preview with tactical analysis, xG context, lineup signals, and data-backed betting insights for faster decisions.

Use this page as a quick-read snapshot first, then continue to deep stats and methodology references below.

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