Austrian journalists assessed the game of Sturm in different ways in the match against Dynamo. If some saw the potential to go to the next round even after the away defeat, others believe that Sturm played frankly poorly and it is time for him to think about playing in another tournament. They believe that the Austrian club was not ready for the Champions League and at this level it has nothing to do with such a game.
Der standard
Sturm had a chance to play more successfully with Dynamo, but in the end it loses,” a Der Standard journalist tells readers. He is sure that it is not necessary to say goodbye to the Champions League in advance, since the game of Sturm leaves hope for a positive outcome of the confrontation.
— Dynamo has to play its matches in the Champions League in Poland, because a war is going on in Ukraine, which has already negatively affected not only the lives of civilians, but also sports. But many Ukrainians live in Poland, so Dynamo can feel at home in this country.
On the way to the group stage of the playoffs, in which, as expected, Benfica will be waiting for us, we first need to go through Dynamo. An opponent who, as expected, will become the favorite of the confrontation. As in the case of attempts in 2002, 2011 and 2018, for Sturm everything can end in qualifying. It was the first defeat of the season after four points in two league games and a successful start in the Cup.
In the first half, Sturm performed well, but Dynamo scored a goal. In the second half, the Ukrainians could have doubled their advantage, but did not convert a great chance. "Storm" in the second half of the meeting did not look so good. Nevertheless, the guests had a chance to level the score, but Sturm's attack obviously did not play its best match.
Now Dynamo can fully focus on the second leg vs Sturm. While the Austrian club has a game in the championship ahead, and only then the return match with Dynamo. Of course, after this defeat, Sturm has less chances to go further, but still they are. The Austrian club showed that they are not inferior to Dynamo in any way, except for converting chances.
Heute
The journalist of the Heute publication believes that Sturm was not ready for the matches with Dynamo and played frankly weak. Therefore, you can forget about going to the next round and start preparing for the Europa League, where lower-level rivals play.
- "Storm" played well only in the beginning and could not oppose the powerful game of the Kiev team, especially in the second half. The second leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League will take place next Tuesday in Graz. In case of victory, Sturm will presumably meet with Benfica in the playoff round for reaching the group stage. In the event of relegation, the Austrians will probably enter the group stage of the Europa League.
The match left an unpleasant feeling of helplessness for Sturm. Yes, the guests started the game better, but after the conceded goal, Dynamo acted so confidently and calmly that sometimes it seemed that Sturm was simply unable to surprise the Ukrainians with anything. The guests seemed confused, they were not ready for such a game, although this is how Dynamo acted in the matches against Fenerbahce. The Ukrainians rarely made mistakes, but Sturm was still able to create a few chances. If the Austrians had better used their chances, one could dream of a draw. Now you need to believe that in Austria, Sturm will be able to realize their few chances.
Kronen Zeitung
“The position of Sturm is not hopeless, but it is necessary to significantly improve the game and start converting chances,” the journalist of the Kronen Zeitung website believes. He believes that with such a game, both teams will not be able to oppose anything to Benfica, with which, probably, one of the Dynamo-Sturm pair will play in the playoff round.
— It looks like Sturm is losing again in the first round of the Champions League qualification, as it happened in previous times when it got the right to play in the most prestigious tournament in Europe. And even if this time it’s not the giant that stands in the way of Sturm, but the Ukrainian club, which faced huge problems due to the war, this did not make the task easier. Already 99% it can be argued that in the playoff round the winner of our pair will be waiting for Benfica. The Portuguese club amazingly dealt with the Danes, defeating them 4:1.
But to get to the next round, you need to go through Dynamo. The defeat in the first match did not look hopeless, but left many questions. Sturm really wanted to win and started pressing from the first minutes. On the one hand, he could quickly open an account. On the other hand, the guests quickly ran out of steam, so in the second half they were no longer able to improve and only looked at how Dynamo controlled the game.
The Ukrainians deservedly won, but this does not mean that Sturm has no chance of ultimate success. If the Austrians can improve their game, especially the conversion of chances, they will have a chance to advance to the next round.
Anton PROKOPOV
