Standard weapon

This is how Sturm wants to crack even the super opponent

Efficient, efficient, Sturm! With a 4:0 win against WAC, the Ilzer squad boosted their confidence ahead of the Conference League round of 16. The white spring vest remained unblemished and the Blackies' outstanding strength with set-pieces and headers gives them hope of a masterstroke against top team Lille in the Merkur Arena on Thursday (18:45).

"We're up against a European powerhouse," warns David Affengruber, without daring to make any predictions, "but we'll do everything we can to get a good result on Thursday."

The self-confidence is right: "After the last few weeks, it would be madness if we didn't have any self-confidence." Nobody has beaten the Blackies this spring - five wins and two draws!

The 22-year-old takes it for granted that the game against Lille will be a sell-out: "A round of 16 in a European competition is a big deal for an Austrian club."

Extra shift on the second floor
The standards and heading power have developed into a real weapon: "We train that again and again, extra sessions are part of it, of course. The secret is that we simply have good headers - and not just one, but several! The opponent can't adjust to one." Lavalee (2), Biereth, Affengruber, Stankovic and even Kiteishvili have already scored from the "second floor" in spring. In the fall, there were twelve header goals by Wlodarczyk (6), Stankovic (2), Affengruber (2), Prass and Wüthrich.

"Dominik Deutschl studies our set pieces meticulously, adjusts the players perfectly to the opponent, provides strategy and energy," Christian Ilzer passes on the praise to his assistant coach, "and the quality of the assists provided by Horvat and Gazibegovic are also top notch."

What gives Ilzer confidence against "top opponents" Lille: "The team is now rewarding itself for staying in the game and keeping up the tension. We are no longer satisfied with a lead. That's what sets us apart from Sturm in the fall."

"Resting balls" are not a panacea for Ilzer, but: "Winning the set play can make the difference in tight games!" Hopefully on Thursday too.