Before Atalanta - Storm

“Nobody believed in us in Rome either!”

Imre Szabics (right) secured Sturm's only victory in the black Italo history in Rome against Lazio in 2002.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Ready for the next Italian night! Sturm have crossed swords with clubs from the country of the four-time world champions 14 times in their club history - but ahead of Tuesday's clash with Atalanta in Bergamo, there is only one win on the Blackies' "Italo list".

Coach Gernot Fraydl kicked off Sturm's "Italian history" with two draws and promotion in the 1983 UEFA Cup against Hellas Verona. After two Champions League defeats against Inter Milan in 1998, Ivica Osim was knocked out of the 1999 UEFA Cup against Parma after the legendary Schicklgruber blunder in injury time. After two Europa League draws against Lazio in 2022, Christian Ilzer managed a draw in two duels against Atalanta Bergamo the following year.