Sturm Graz (A) 06/11/25

Sturm Graz 0-0 Nottingham Forest

When I thought of European away days, this is exactly what I envisioned. A beautiful city in a country I wouldn’t have imagined I’d come to. A cold Thursday night. A smaller capacity stadium. A group of ultras waving flags and scarves all game. Exactly what football is all about.

Going into the game, Sturm Graz sat in 27^th in the Europa league table, on three points with their only victory coming at home to Rangers. In the last Europa League match week, Forest picked up an important win against FC Porto which was their first of this European campaign. Graz were winless in their last four games across all competitions whilst Forest haven’t won in seven away games. With players missing through injury and suspension as well as Dyche resting some of his key players, the Reds manager made seven changes from his side’s draw against Manchester United. The bench featured six academy players, giving them the chance to have their dreams come true. Jurgen Samuel also switched up his side that lost in the Bundesliga last weekend, making five changes.

After the Europa League anthem boomed around the Merkur Arena and both sets of fans were chanting and bouncing, the game got underway. From the off, the visitors dominated the game and they almost took an early lead. Neco Williams won a free kick just outside the box by the left byline. Instead of lofting the ball in, Dominguez played the ball back towards the edge of the box where McAtee was running onto it. He took the finish first time but his effort rolled agonisingly wide. Dyche sides are known to score many set-piece goals and his team almost scored from another one. Williams whipped in the corner from the left towards the back post. That is where it was met by Morato who headed back into the danger area. Yates got there first to head towards goal from two yards out but his effort was headed off the line by Malic.

Forest’s domination continued as the first half grew on. They were getting themselves forward but they struggled to find that final pass or shot to give them the lead. However, the perfect opportunity landed for Morgan Gibbs-White. Williams crossed from the left, but as he did the ball struck the outstretched arm of Aiwu in the box, forcing the referee to point to the spot. Luck seemed to be on the Reds’ side as moments before Graz had scored, but the offside flag came to their rescue. Gibbs-White stepped up and tried fire the ball into the bottom right corner but Christensen guessed the right way to make the save. After scoring from the spot against Porto going towards the left, the questions can be asked: why did the Englishman go the other way?

In search of the opening goal, Graz forced John Victor into a good save with their first real promising attack of the game. Horvat and Rozga played a one-two on the edge of the box before Horvat took on the shot first time. John Victor got down to parry the shot away before Williams could clear. Right on the stroke of half-time, Yates had his second attempt of the game. McAtee pinched the ball deep into the Graz half before finding Gibbs-White. He passed to Yates on the edge of the box before he took a few touches and shot looking for the top left corner. His effort sailed not far wide of it.

Throughout the second 45, the visitors were getting chances but these were either blocked or a poor effort. Forest were still the better side but neither side had a decent opportunity until the 90^th minute where the Reds almost won it at the death. Williams fired in a corner from the right which was headed clear but only as far as Dominguez on the edge of the ‘d’. He hit the ball on the volley but his effort crashed off the crossbar with the help of a deflection. After a tedious game, Forest did extend English teams unbeaten run against Austrian teams to 33 as well as picking up a point and a clean sheet on the road.

Thursday’s game was frustrating as we were completely the better side and we had the opportunities to score a few in that first half. We did keep them at arm’s length and they didn’t look like they were going to score unless it was from a mistake or a set-piece. Although we should’ve won the game, considering we were without some key players, we’ve kept a clean sheet and come away from the game with a point. Gibbs-White did have the chance gifted to him but I don’t get why he went the opposite way to what he did against Porto. Once again, my standout was Williams as he consistently puts in good performances week after week and he seems to be one of the only ones up to Dyche’s fitness levels. Sangare also impressed me as did Morato as they both did some of the simple things right. Even though the game was disappointing, the trip was amazing and so was the atmosphere. We can’t take these times for granted. We move onto a huge game on the weekend against Leeds United where we really need three points.

Sturm Graz: Christensen; Malic (Mitchell 87’), Aiwu, Geyrhofer (Lavalee 57’), Karic; Gorenc-Stankovic; Horvat (Hierlander 77’), Hodl; Kiteishvili (Kayombo 57’); Malone (Jatta 57’), Rozga

Forest: John Victor; Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams; McAtee (Ndoye 66’), Yates, Sangare, Dominguez; Kalimuendo (Abbott 77’), Gibbs-White (Murillo 77’)