SK Sturm Graz faces a challenging away match in the second round of the Austrian Cup against ASK Voitsberg. The game takes place on Saturday at 3:30 PM at the Münzer Bioindustrie Sportpark.
The Bundesliga runners-up will be accompanied by over 600 black-and-white supporters. The clear objective is to advance to the round of 16, taking the next step towards the final in Klagenfurt. Head coach Fabio Ingolitsch is aware of the challenge. "We know that an enormously intense cup game awaits us in Voitsberg," he said. Sturm Graz's current Bundesliga campaign has started with a record of two wins, two draws, and one loss from five matches. This places the club fourth in the table with 8 points.
Fabio Ingolitsch's team will be without several players. Defender Albert Vallci is suspended due to a red card received last Saturday. Forward Oumar Diakite is not yet available pending match authorization. On a positive note, two players are returning. Midfielder Otar Kiteishvili, who remains on the current injury list, is back after a persistent calf issue. Filip Rozga is also ready for action following a good week of training. The exact lineup and further squad details can be found on our squad page.
Sturm Graz enters the cup tie with a solid foundation. In the league, they have scored six goals and conceded five, resulting in a +1 goal difference. Their recent form, however, shows room for improvement with a sequence of Loss, Draw, Win, Draw, Draw (LDWWD). In the title race, the team trails leaders Lask Linz by seven points. The full league standings are available at standings.
The opponent from Styria, ASK Voitsberg, is a newly-promoted second-division side and no easy fixture. Cup matches at lower-league grounds always present a unique challenge. The referee for the encounter will be Isa Simsek. For Sturm Graz, it's vital to establish control early and avoid unnecessary risks. The team aims to handle the expected intense battle from the hosts and let their individual quality shine through.
Regardless of the outcome in Voitsberg, another major Bundesliga test awaits next week. On September 13, 2026, Sturm Graz hosts current table-toppers Lask Linz at the Merkur Arena. This top-of-the-table clash is a key fixture in the championship race. All upcoming fixtures for the Black-Whites are listed in the fixtures calendar. Coach Ingolitsch stressed the importance of Saturday: "Our clear goal for Saturday is therefore to take the next step on the way to Klagenfurt in Voitsberg." The round of 16 is the target.
