Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Merkur-Arena will host Wednesday’s Champions League game between Sturm Graz and Club Brugge. Sturm failed to impress in a 2-1 loss to Brest in their opener, but a 2-1 win over BW Linz at the weekend undisputedly gave them a confidence boost. Talented forward Seedy Jatta is back from the domestic ban, while important defender Gregory Wuthrich remains in the recovery room. As fellow defender Dimitri Lavalee serves a one-game ban, the Austrians are unlikely to keep a clean sheet in the round 2 clash.
The Belgian champions, on the other hand, aim to recover from a 3-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund. As Hans Vanaken and Co. will go for a win as well, we are tempted to bet on both teams to score. Dutch defender Bjorn Meijer should be the only absentee in the visiting team this time out.
Highlighted Player (Simon Mignolet):
Simon Luc Hildebert Mignolet is a Belgium goalkeeper born on 6 March 1988 in Sint-Truiden. He began his career in a club from his hometown, making 100 league appearances for Sint-Truidense before moving to Sunderland in 2010.
Mignolet would go on to spent next four years at the Stadium of Light, making 90 Premier League appearances. As one of world’s most talented goalkeepers, the Belgium international signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2013, and he has since been the club’s first choice goalkeeper. Performing admirably most of the time, but also committing cheap mistakes at times, Mignolet has yet to win over the Liverpool fans, but remains highly regarded in his native country.
The talented shot-stopper has been a member of the Belgium national team since 2011, earning over 20 caps for the Red Devils, but he has been playing second fiddle to Chelsea star Thibaut Courtois over the last few years.