Bournemouth vs Sturm Graz — Tips & Analysis

Sturm Graz +2.25: Bournemouth do not win games by big margins. They have won by 2 or more goals in only 2 of their last 15 games, and four of their last seven at home ended in ties. That is the case for backing Sturm Graz with a big head start. Bournemouth are the better side, and nobody is pretending otherwise. They have lost once in their last seven at home and let in a goal a game there. They are also missing a lot of their attack, with Justin Kluivert, Amine Adli, Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott all out. A Premier League game follows this one, so changes are likely. Sturm Graz are hard to break down. They let in under a goal a game and drew 0-0 with Rennes in their first league phase game. They have won 8 of their last 15. Their away scoring, more than a goal a game, has all come against Austrian teams, so it means little at this level. They will sit in and make the night awkward. A 2-0 Bournemouth win looks the most likely result, and the away side's head start survives that. The worry is the Sturm team news. Otar Kiteishvili is one of seven players ruled out, and a side that short can get picked apart late on. We still think the winning margin stays small.