Sturm Graz will be without midfielder Otar Kiteishvili for Sunday's Bundesliga top match away to Rapid Vienna. Der Standard reports the absence and also confirms a long-term injury for Rapid's Jean Marcelin.
Otar Kiteishvili will not be available for the game at the Allianz Stadion. The Georgian international is a central figure in Graz's build-up play. His creative qualities will be missed in Hütteldorf. Manager Christian Ilzer must adjust his starting lineup. Sturm Graz travel to Vienna on the back of two consecutive wins. In the last two matches against LASK and WSG Tirol, the team collected six points.
Rapid Vienna will be without Jean Marcelin for several weeks. The defensive midfielder is a key pillar in the centre of the park. Manager Johannes Hoff Thorup announced rotations due to the English week with three games in eight days. Rapid want to bounce back after their elimination from the Conference League with a strong performance. The Viennese side had a good start to the season and sit just above Sturm Graz in the table.
The direct duel between the two traditional clubs is important for the Bundesliga standings. A win could temporarily lift the winner into a European qualification spot. The exact positions and points can be tracked at any time in the standings. Sturm Graz has already shown this season that they are strong away from home. The next tasks for the Graz side can be found in the fixtures calendar.
Ilzer must find a solution for the attacking midfield role. Possible candidates for the position are Alexander Prass or David Schnegg, who can also play in other roles. The Sturm Graz squad offers further attacking options with players like William Böving and Tomi Horvat. The complete overview of all available players is provided by the squad list. The team must deliver a compact performance even without their key player.
The match between Rapid Vienna and Sturm Graz kicks off on Sunday at 5 PM. For Sturm Graz, the next fixture is a home game against SCR Altach the following Saturday.
