Sturm has had an outstanding season in the Austrian Bundesliga, and their dominant 5-0 victory over Salzburg at home solidified their place at the top of the standings. However, they now face a completely different level of competition. In their most recent match in the Champions League, Sturm struggled at home against Club Brugge, suffering a narrow 0-1 defeat.

Today, their challenge grows even tougher as they take on Sporting Lisbon. Last season, Sturm lost both encounters with Sporting, falling 3-0 away and 1-2 at home in the Europa League competition.

On the other side, Sporting Lisbon faced a difficult test against PSV in their last match. A poor pitch and PSV's strong tactical setup nearly neutralized them, but substitute Daniel Bragança salvaged a 1-1 draw with a late goal. Despite injuries to key players like Gonçalo Inácio in defense and up front Pedro Gonçalves, Sporting remains a formidable opponent, and they are likely to overcome the challenge that Sturm presents today.