Fenerbahce and Sturm Graz were both in the league phase of last season's Europa League but the pair will be hoping that they can go one better and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Fenerbahce are European regulars, but they have not been in the UEFA Champions League proper since the 2008-09 season, while Sturm Graz were in the league phase of the competition in 2024-25.
The Turkish hosts edged past Polish outfit Gornik Zabrze 2-1 on aggregate in the second qualifying round whereas Sturm Graz made light work of Hearts, routing the Scottish side 6-0 on aggregate.
Sturm Graz finished runners-up to LASK Linz in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and Fenerbahce also played second fiddle in the Turkish Super Lig, being overhauled by Istanbul rivals Galatasaray.
However, some strong investment will have Fener believing that they can improve this season and they should be confident of coming through this third-round qualifier.
Fenerbahce v Sturm Graz Tips Summary
Best Bet - Fenerbahce to win and over 2.5 goals @ EVS
Alternative Bet - Fenerbahce to score in both halves @ 11/10
Bet Builder - Fenerbahce to win, Over 6 Fenerbahce corners & Both teams to score @ 5/1
Fenerbahce v Sturm Graz Prediction
Best Bet: Fenerbahce to win over 2.5 goals @ EVS
Fenerbahce are clearly keen on becoming the best team in Turkey this season while also targeting qualifying for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
Manager Ismail Kartal has been splashing the cash, adding Mason Greenwood from Marseille, Nathan Ake from Manchester City and Vedat Muriqi from Mallorca to a squad already well represented through the likes of Talisca, Kerem Aktürkoglu and Marco Asensio.
Given that wealth of quality, there is no reason why this side shouldn't be challenging all before them this season and Sturm may have been flattered by their 6-0 aggregate win over Hearts.
There's been plenty of change at Hearts over the summer, losing manager Derek McInnes and top-scorer Lawrence Shankland, and they have since been beaten 2-1 in their Scottish Premiership opener with Aberdeen.
So that form can be scrutinised and Fener have lost only one of their last 11 home matches.
That said, Sturm Graz do have an eye for a goal and seven of Fenerbahce’s final nine matches last season went over 2.5 goals.
Alternative Bet: Fenerbahce to score in both halves @ 11/10
With the prospects of a high-scoring game, backing Fenerbahce to score in both halves could reap rewards.
The Turkish side have plenty of attacking talent at their disposal with Greenwood, who scored 16 goals for Marseille in Ligue 1 last season, joining Talisca following his 27-goal campaign last term.
Muriqi was also prolific last season in La Liga, scoring 23 goals for Mallorca, and with Akturkoglu and Asensio providing the creativity, plenty of chances should fall their way.
Sturm Graz were held to a 1-1 draw by Tirol in their Austrian Bundesliga opener and they will have a hostile atmosphere to contend with Istanbul, something they may struggle to manage.
Fenerbahce v Sturm Graz Bet Builder Tip
Fenerbahce to win
Over 6 Fenerbahce corners
Both teams to score
Pays 5/1
Fenerbahce really should take some stopping at a ground which has been a fortress for them.
The Turkish side recorded home wins over Nice and Stuttgart in the league phase of the Europa League last season and in the second round of qualifying they defeated Gornik Zabrze 1-0 on their own patch.
In that recent home victory over the Polish side, Fener had nine corners while they had seven more in the second leg.
Sturm Graz do have attacking quality and having put six past Hearts over the course of two legs in the second qualifying round, may grab a consolation against a Fenerbahce side that don’t deal in too many clean sheets.
Learn more about how Bet Builders work in our Bet Builder guide.
Key Match Stats
Fenerbahce are unbeaten in eight home games against Austrian opposition, winning five times
Fenerbahce's last five home matches have averaged 3.4 goals
Fenerbahce are unbeaten in eight matches at home
Both teams have scored in six of Fener's last eight on their own patch
Sturm Graz have scored in each of their last 10 competitive games
Both teams have scored in the two competitive meetings between these sides
Read more football betting tips and predictions on site
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
