Preview:Sturm Graz vs Bodo/Glimt - prediction, team news, lineups

Set to stroll straight through to the league phase, Bodo/Glimt must finish the job in their Champions League playoff with Sturm Graz on Tuesday.

Following a ruthless five-goal win last week, the Norwegian club only need to avoid complete disaster in Austria.

Match preview

Putting one foot firmly in the league phase, Bodo/Glimt ran riot at Aspmyra Stadion in last week's first leg, continuing their impressive run of European results on home turf.

Kasper Hogh's strike settled any nerves in the seventh minute, before Odin Bjortuft and Ulrik Saltnes found the net ahead of half time; after the break, Hakon Evjen's finish was followed by a Sturm Graz own goal.

So, last season's Europa League semi-finalists are now within touching distance of reaching UEFA's elite competition for the very first time.

Having virtually booked their place in Thursday's draw, Kjetil Knutsen's side will also benefit from having the weekend off, and they still sit top of Norway's Eliteserien.

Following a painful 3-2 aggregate defeat to Red Star Belgrade in last summer's playoffs, only an extreme case of complacency can stop them dining at Europe's top table this year.

Torn apart on Glimt's plastic pitch last Wednesday, Sturm Graz may feel they have a hopeless task ahead of them.

It will certainly take a miraculous comeback to make the league phase again, after finishing 30th out of 36 teams last term.

Die Schwoazn did manage to beat RB Leipzig and Girona on home turf following Jurgen Saumel's appointment in November, so they can at least hope for a consolation win in front of their own fans.

Saumel's side may have won three of four Austrian Bundesliga games so far this season, but in the biggest contests they have come up short, losing 2-1 to Rapid Vienna shortly before being thumped 5-0 in Norway.

So, with a likely Europa League campaign lying ahead of them, Sturm will aim to build some momentum - and avoid further embarrassment - by exiting the Champions League with a win.

Sturm Graz Champions League form: L

Sturm Graz form (all competitions): W W L W L

Bodo/Glimt Champions League form: W

Bodo/Glimt form (all competitions): W W W D W W

Team News

Both Ole Didrik Blomberg and Jostein Gundersen are still sidelined for Bodo/Glimt, while centre-back Haitam Aleesami sustained a thigh injury in the first leg and will also miss out.

Averaging a goal every other game in UEFA competition, Kasper Hogh is Glimt’s chief threat up front, and he should be supported by ex-AC Milan winger Jens Petter Hauge.

As ever, captain Patrick Berg will patrol central midfield, with Kjetil Knutsen set to name a familiar starting XI.

Meanwhile, Sturm Graz must do without Axel Kayombo (ankle), Alexandar Borkovic (knee) and Daniil Khudyakov (wrist); Scotland defender Max Johnston is bound for Derby County, so the hosts must make a change at right-back.

Having scored in all three league games this season, Otar Kiteishvili is a key man in the final third, usually linking up with Leon Grgic and William Boving - the latter scored an unfortunate own goal in Bodo.

Sturm Graz possible starting lineup: Christensen; Malic, Oermann, Lavalee, Karic; Horvat, Stankovic, Chukwuani; Kiteishvili; Grgic, Boving

Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup: Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Nielsen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Maatta, Hogh, Hauge

We say: Sturm Graz 2-2 Bodo/Glimt (Bodo/Glimt win 7-2 on aggregate)

With the tie effectively settled, Sturm Graz can regain some pride by at least drawing their home leg.

Bodo/Glimt may have slayed the likes of Roma, Lazio and Celtic in northern Norway, but they tend to be less potent when on the road. Still, a second-leg stalemate will secure their Champions League debut.

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