Now facing EL elimination

LIVE: Can Sturm win against Arnie’s Red Star?

There was nothing to cheer about for Tomi Horvat and his Sturm team against Red Star Belgrade ...(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

SK Sturm Graz have suffered a bitter setback in the Europa League promotion race! The Austrian champions were beaten 0:1 (0:0) by Serbian serial champions Red Star Belgrade on Thursday.

After a good first half and two great chances from Seedy Jatta, a header from Mirko Ivanic (55') probably meant the end for Sturm after the league phase. For the Belgrade side, ÖFB record team player Marko Arnautovic came on in the first half.

With four points, even two wins in the final two rounds will probably not be enough to progress from the league phase. Feyenoord in Rotterdam and Norwegian club Brann Bergen at home await in January. Ten points were too few for some teams in the pre-season to secure a place in the top 24 of 36 teams.

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Jatta with two chances
The team of embattled coach Jürgen Säumel had the chance for a dream start: After a hole pass from Tomi Horvat, Seedy Jatta was completely alone in the penalty area, but missed (3rd). At the other end, goalkeeper Oliver Christensen saved a shot from Timi Elsnik (5).

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Sturm had a lot of possession and found their way into the penalty area again and again after half an hour against the visitors, who were tight in defense. Jon Gorenc Stankovic headed over after a long throw-in from Jeyland Mitchell (34') and a deflected shot from Otar Kiteishvili (38') created danger before Jatta missed his second big chance. The striker hesitated and was intercepted (40), and Emir Karic narrowly missed a little later (41).

Arnautovic until the break
Graz did not concede anything at the back in the first half and also had Arnautovic well under control. The ÖFB record goalscorer had recovered from an adductor injury earlier than expected and was surprisingly given a starting role by coach Vladan Milojevic. In his first competitive match as a professional against an Austrian team, Arnautovic was only at the center of attention for a painful foul on him (11th) and a yellow card (16th). The striker, who had been taped on the thigh early on, was off at the break.

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

He was replaced by Bruno Duarte, who immediately had the lead at his feet (48'). It could have been a wake-up call for Graz, who had come out of the dressing room sluggish - as was a goal by Nayair Tiknizyan, which was disallowed for offside after a VAR check (52'). Three minutes later, the Serbian fans were justified in their jubilation: After a corner kick, captain Ivanic was unchallenged for a header and scored to take the lead.

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No penalty for Sturm
The chance to equalize was wiped out by the VAR (68'). After a quick foray by Horvat across half the pitch and a foul by Felicio Milson, Polish referee Damian Sylwestrzak initially pointed to the penalty spot, but reversed his decision due to a foul by Horvat in the build-up. Säumel tried to turn things around with a triple substitution, but there were no more clear-cut opportunities to score against the experienced Serbs. In the end, it was the first defeat in the sixth European Cup home game under his management.

The result:
SK Sturm Graz - Red Star Belgrade 0:1 (0:0)
Graz-Liebenau, Merkur Arena (sold out), referee Sylwestrzak (POL)

Goal: 0:1 (55.) Mirko Ivanić

Yellow cards: Malic, Bendra, Mitchell or Arnautovic, Ivanic, Krunic, Katai

Storm: Christensen - Malic (79. Bendra), Mitchell, Aiwu, Karic (79. Hierländer) - Gorenc Stankovic, Chukwuani (66. Hödl) - Horvat, Kiteishvili - Malone (79. Beganovic), Jatta (66. Kayombo)
Red Star: Matheus - Seol, Veljkovic, Rodrigao, Tiknisjan - Krunic, Elsnik - Händel (95. Kostov), Ivanic (87. Katai), Milson (83. Bajo) - Arnautovic (46. Duarte)