European Cup in Lille

Sturm chasing at least a stage goal in France

Otar Kiteishvili was unlucky in Graz with a shot off the crossbar.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Sturm's chances of winning the extra million euros needed to reach the quarter-finals of the Conference League have dropped drastically after the 3-0 first leg against Lille - the second leg on Thursday (21) in northern France is all about an honorable farewell to the competition. And a "milestone".

Sturm have been guests in France three times in the European Cup so far - three times there was nothing to inherit away from home: Osim's "Golden Boys" lost 2:0 in Marseille in the Champions League on September 14, 1999. At the second attempt in France on September 27, 2000, there was a 5:0 defeat in Monaco. And in the Europa League on 16. 9. 2021 there was also a 0:1. Incidentally, the second Graz club, GAK, also never scored in Monaco, Auxerre and Strasbourg.

Marco Simone (Monaco) virtually sent Mamedov and Co. to the boards in 2000 with a treble in a 5-0 win.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Vastic and Co. conceded 2-0 in Marseille in 1999.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

"We felt Lille's strength in Graz," says Christian Ilzer, "you have to honestly admit that they were clearly better. But we have intentions for the second leg, we want to sell ourselves dearly. And if the soccer god has something planned for us, we'll be ready."

The first Graz goal on French soil would be a first milestone! Winter signing Mika Biereth was the top scorer for Graz in the spring with five goals and is a hot tip for the "French goal premiere": "We've had 17 different goalscorers in 37 games," says Ilzer, "that underlines the team's unity. Many players can score. And I think we definitely have it in us to develop a real goal scorer again (note: like Yeboah, Höjlund, Emegha)."

Christian Ilzer hopes to develop a new goal scorer.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Otar Kiteishvili was unlucky with a crossbar goal against Lille in the first leg: "We know that we would need a miracle to get promoted, but we can learn a lot from games like this." Who scores the first goal is secondary for the Georgian: "One is not enough - we need three! But our team always has opportunities to score goals - especially from set-pieces. We'll try our best, take more risks and see what happens. We were too far away from goal in the first leg."

Lille may be Kiteishvili's last European Cup game for Sturm, as his contract is coming to an end: "I haven't decided what I'm going to do in the summer yet!" Next week, the playmaker faces the European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg (and Greece if he wins) with Georgia. If he goes to the European Championship, the door to one of the big European leagues would be wide open.