Levi Rothermund
Sturm Graz welcome Ukrainian side LNZ to the Brann Stadion in Bergen for a pre-season friendly on June 30. The Austrian outfit arrive in noticeably better shape, having dismantled Mura 5-0 in their most recent outing, a scoreline that signals Fabio Ingolitsch’s side is sharpening fast ahead of the new campaign. LNZ, managed by Vitaliy Ponomaryov, lost their last match 0-1 to Hajduk Split and have shown a pattern of low-scoring, cautious football throughout their recent fixtures. One player to watch on the Sturm Graz side is whoever leads the press in midfield — their 5-0 win over Mura showed a team capable of overwhelming opponents when the intensity is high. For LNZ, their defensive shape will be under pressure from the first whistle, and how their backline copes without conceding early will define the entire game.
Hot stat: Sturm Graz scored 5 goals in a single match against Mura, which is their only recorded game in the last 30 days — that’s a 100% win rate with a +5 goal difference from one outing. LNZ, by contrast, have drawn four of their last five matches before the Hajduk Split loss, keeping a clean sheet in each of those draws.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026 |
| 🏟 Venue: | Brann Stadion, Bergen |
| 🗓️ Date: | 30.06.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 18:00 CEST |
Sturm Graz vs LNZ Prediction
Sturm Graz are the stronger side on paper and in form. Their world club ranking sits at 215 compared to LNZ’s 399, and the gap in quality shows clearly when you look at recent opponents. Sturm Graz held draws against Salzburg and SK Rapid — two competitive sides — then turned around and put five past Mura. That versatility in performance levels suggests a squad that can raise or lower its tempo depending on the opposition.
LNZ have been extremely cautious in recent weeks. Four consecutive 0-0 draws before the Hajduk Split defeat tell you this is a side focused on structure rather than output. Against a pressing, physically sharper Austrian team in what is essentially a pre-season warmup, we think LNZ will struggle to create meaningful chances. Sturm Graz should control possession and generate enough opportunities to win this comfortably.
We think a Sturm Graz win with over 2.5 goals is the best value here. Their attack looked sharp in the Mura game, and LNZ have shown almost no attacking threat in recent fixtures. The friendly context may loosen defensive discipline on both sides as the match progresses, which only benefits the Austrian side.
Sturm Graz’s style tends toward aggressive pressing and quick transitions. LNZ, based on their foul-light, draw-heavy recent form, appear to sit deep and absorb pressure. That setup invites corners and set pieces, which Sturm Graz should be able to exploit. We do not expect LNZ to score, making Both Teams to Score a “No” lean, though friendly conditions can always produce surprises late on.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Sturm Graz to Win to Nil |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | No |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Sturm Graz have played five matches in the data window, and the overall picture is of a team that grinds through competitive fixtures before finding their rhythm. Back-to-back 0-0 draws against Salzburg and Hartberg showed defensive solidity but limited attacking output. The 1-1 draw with Austria Vienna followed a similar pattern. Then came the 5-0 win over Mura — a result that came just days after those tight draws, suggesting the squad has depth and can rotate effectively without losing firepower.
LNZ’s recent run is harder to assess positively. Their last five results read: 0-0 vs Dynamo Kyiv, 0-0 vs SC Poltava, 0-0 vs Kudrivka, 0-0 vs Obolon Kyiv, and then a 0-1 loss to Hajduk Split. Four clean sheets in a row sounds good until you notice they also failed to score in any of those games. The loss to Hajduk Split broke the streak on both ends. Ponomaryov’s side appears to prioritize defensive structure, and their attacking output against even modest opposition has been near zero. That is a real concern heading into a match against a team ranked nearly 200 places above them.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
No previous head-to-head data between Sturm Graz and LNZ is available. The table below reflects each team’s individual stats across their last five matches.
| Statistic | Sturm Graz | LNZ |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 6 | 0 |
| Total shots | N/A | N/A |
| Free kicks | N/A | N/A |
| Corner kicks | N/A | N/A |
| Total fouls | N/A | N/A |
| Pass accuracy (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Interceptions | N/A | N/A |
| Offsides | N/A | N/A |
🚨Check out our dedicated Sturm Graz vs LNZ stats page for more info.
Pre-game Odds and Win Probability: Sturm Graz the Favourite
No bookmaker odds were available at the time of writing for this fixture. Given the ranking gap and current form, Sturm Graz would be heavy favourites in any market. The estimated probabilities from the data provider show 0% across all outcomes, which reflects the absence of market data rather than any genuine uncertainty. We treat Sturm Graz as clear favourites based on form alone.
- Moneyline Sturm Graz N/A | LNZ N/A
- Draw N/A
- Over/Under Over 2.5 N/A | Under 2.5 N/A
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes N/A | No N/A
Once odds become available, we expect Sturm Graz to be priced somewhere around 1.50-1.70 to win, with LNZ likely north of 5.00. The Over 2.5 goals line should attract decent value given Sturm Graz’s recent attacking display, and the Sturm Graz to Win to Nil market could offer the best return if LNZ’s goalless run continues.
LNZ. Source: Official Facebook
Possible Starting Lineups
Sturm Graz Possible Starting Eleven
No detailed lineup data was provided for this fixture. Based on the squad profile of Sturm Graz under Fabio Ingolitsch and their typical setup in the Austrian Bundesliga, we project a likely 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation for this friendly.
- GK: Kjell Scherpen
- DF: Jon Gorenc Stankovic, Gregory Wüthrich, Jusuf Gazibegovic, Emanuel Aiwu
- MF: Alexander Prass, Tobias Lavalée, Tomi Horvat
- FW: Mika Biereth, Manprit Sarkaria, Szymon Wlodarczyk
Ingolitsch is likely to rotate across this friendly, but Biereth and Prass are the two names to watch. Biereth has the movement and finishing to punish a passive LNZ defensive line, while Prass drives forward from midfield and creates numerical advantages in transition. A 4-3-3 shape would suit Sturm Graz’s pressing style and give them width to stretch LNZ’s compact block.
LNZ Possible Starting Eleven
LNZ’s recent run of 0-0 draws suggests Ponomaryov favors a tight, low-block defensive shape. No detailed lineup data was provided, so the projection below is based on available squad information and their tactical pattern.
- GK: Mykyta Shevchenko
- DF: Artem Favorov, Dmytro Hryshko, Denys Miroshnychenko, Oleksii Kas’ianov
- MF: Oleksandr Naumets, Serhii Buletsa, Denys Bezborodko, Mykhailo Snizhko
- FW: Vladyslav Kulach, Vladyslav Nazarenko
LNZ will likely line up in a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 defensive block. Buletsa in midfield is their most technically capable player and could cause Sturm Graz problems on the counter if given space. The fullbacks will be tested heavily by Sturm Graz’s wide play, and any defensive lapse could prove costly given how clinical the Austrian side looked against Mura.
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Sturm Graz. Source: Official Facebook
TipsGG Match Prediction
Sturm Graz should win this one without much difficulty. Their 5-0 demolition of Mura showed a team in excellent attacking shape, and LNZ arrive having scored zero goals across five matches. The Ukrainian side’s defensive discipline may keep things tight in the opening period, but Sturm Graz’s pressing and quality in the final third should eventually break through.
We think the most likely outcome is a 2-0 or 3-0 win for Sturm Graz. LNZ have shown no ability to score against any opponent recently, and a high-ranking Austrian side in pre-season sharpening mode is a tough ask. Honestly, the main question is whether Sturm Graz’s rotations affect their tempo in the second half. If Ingolitsch keeps his key attackers on the pitch, a comfortable multi-goal win looks very likely.
Our pick: Sturm Graz Win and Over 2.5 Goals.
