Sturm Graz and Rennes played out a 0:0 draw in the opening League Stage match of the Europa League at the Merkur Arena on Tuesday. The result leaves both sides with one point from their first game of the competition. By then, it was clear neither side was willing to take unnecessary risks. The Austrian hosts started on the front foot but Rennes settled into their shape.
There were no goals, but the match had its moments. The first yellow card came at minute 51 when L. Balbo was booked for Sturm. Rennes pushed harder after the break, and their pressure showed in the numbers. At minute 62, both teams made double substitutions, bringing on G. Mamageishvili, B. Beganovic for the hosts and Tamari, Szymanski for the visitors. And here's the thing — neither manager seemed eager to gamble early.
More changes followed. Sturm brought on L. Blas and B. Reynolds at minute 80, while Rennes replaced L. Balbo and V. Matoshi at the same stage. F. Ingolitsch picked up a yellow for the hosts at minute 63, and J. Gorenc Stankovic was cautioned in stoppage time. E. Lepaul came on for Rennes at minute 86, completing the substitutions. The match stayed tight throughout, with chances at a premium.
The statistics tell a clear story. Rennes dominated possession at 62 per cent and created more, with expected goals of 1.98 compared to the hosts' 0.83. The French side registered 113 attacks to Sturm's 83 and took 16 shots inside the penalty area. Yet only five shots found the target, and the accuracy was just 22 per cent. Sturm, meanwhile, had 38 clearances and 17 successful tackles, working hard to contain the visitors. Big chances created: two for Rennes, none for Graz.
The draw keeps both teams in the hunt for European qualification. Sturm sit 10th with one point after one game, while Rennes are 11th on the same tally. It was a cautious start for both sides, but the table means little at this stage. What matters now is building momentum. The hosts had beaten LASK Linz 2:1 on Saturday, while Rennes won 1:0 against Marseille — so both came into this match with confidence. Now they return to league action, hoping to add more points to what they have.