AS Monaco, PSV Eindhoven and Real Sociedad San Sebastián are waiting for the Styrians in the Europa League group stage.
Storm's cheers were followed by a difficult draw
Sturm Graz will face AS Monaco, PSV Eindhoven and Real Sociedad San Sebastián from Spain after moving into the group stage of the Europa League.
“We are satisfied with the draw,” said Andreas Schicker, the Styrian sports director. “For me, the Europa League in the new constellation is a Champions League, a great platform for our players and attractive for the fans. We want to represent the SK Sturm well and not become the shooting gallery in this group. But I have the confidence that we will make one point or another. “
Old acquaintance
The Monegasque with head coach Niko Kovac play in the French Ligue 1 and got off to a bumpy start with just one point from the first three rounds. 19th place by no means corresponds to the expectations after third place last season. The eight-time French champion, who also has two German professionals under contract with goalkeeper Alexander Nübel and striker Kevin Volland, has already competed with Sturm Graz in the Champions League: The Styrians won their home game 2-0 in the 2000 / '01 season against Monaco, but away from home it was a bitter 5-0 defeat.
PSV Eindhoven, the Philips' Sport Vereiniging from the Netherlands, is looked after by Roger Schmidt, who is well known in Austria and is the reigning runner-up. With Philipp Mwene there is also an Austrian in the squad, the Brazilian André Ramalho moved from Salzburg to PSV in the summer, plus the former German world champion Mario Götze. In the first two rounds of the Eredivisie, the Eindhoven team have not yet given up a point and are second behind Feyenoord.
It couldn't be more prominent: David Silva (right, against Barcelona's Sergi Busquets) was world and two-time European champion
Champions with a Rapid connection
Real Sociedad, beaten 4-2 to FC Barcelona in the first round of La Liga, last beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0. The fifth of the previous season was twice champion (1980 / '81 and '81 / '82) and most recently in 2020 cup winner. And from 1997 to 2000 the employer of Didi Kühbauer, today's Rapid trainer. The most prominent player in the current squad is David Silva, who moved to the Basque Country in the summer of 2020 after ten years at Manchester City. The 129-time Spanish team player was a member of the European championship teams from 2008 and 2012 and also the world championship team from 2010.
