Celje won 3-2 in Graz on 39% of the ball and eight shots

Sturm Graz had the ball and far more chances, yet Celje took the points with a side that usually finds less of the game than this.

Sturm Graz took 26 shots against Celje and still lost, which is the strangest thing about this Europa League night. At home they usually take around 10 a game, so 26 is a clear break from their own habit. Their expected goals figure, which adds up how likely each shot was to go in, came to 2.28 against a home average of 0.84, so most of those attempts were good ones rather than speculative efforts. Celje managed only eight shots and won 3-2.

Sturm also had the ball, 61% of it, when they usually keep about 35%. That is a striking change for a side that normally spends most of its time chasing possession. Celje had 39%, below their usual 51% away from home, yet they were the side that scored three. Their expected goals of 1.27 sat close to their away norm of 1.17, so the difference was finishing, not how often they got into good positions.

Svit Seslar gave Celje the lead in the 29th minute, and Oumar Diakité levelled for Sturm 11 minutes later. Benjamin Verbič put Celje back in front just before half-time, with Milot Avdyli providing the assist. Seslar made it three at 73 minutes, and Diakité pulled one back deep into added time, far too late to change the outcome. The second half turned on how little Sturm could convert, not on how much they created.

Sturm's A. Helac made four saves, while Celje's Žan-Luk Leban was called on five times. Seven of Celje's eight shots came from inside the box, and seven of them were on target. Sturm had 17 of their 26 shots inside the area, but only five reached the goal, and twelve were blocked before they got that far. Sturm's shots were close, but many did not get through the Celje defence to test Leban.

The home side conceded three, against a usual home figure of one. Celje conceded two, close to their away norm of 2.3, so their back line was ordinary by their own standards even as their attack was not. Seslar's 8.8 rating reflects two goals and ten won duels, a strong evening that his side needed more than once. Verbič also scored, and his 8.2 came from one goal and nine duels won.

The result leaves Sturm with a home side that created a good deal and converted little, and Celje with a win that owed more to finishing than to controlling the game. Both of Sturm's goals came from Oumar Diakité.

Player of the matchS. Sešlar2 goals8.8

O. Diakité2 goals8.2

B. Verbič1 goal8.2

S. Seidl7 chances created7.2