0-0 draw leaves Sturm Graz and Rennes level after opening round

A goalless opening round leaves both sides level

Sturm Graz and Rennes began their UEFA Europa League league-stage campaigns with a 0-0 draw at Merkur Arena in Graz on Wednesday, September 16. The result gave each team one point from one game and left them level on goal difference. Sturm Graz were listed 10th in the League Round table, with Rennes 11th.

Neither side found a goal during the 90 minutes, so there were no scorers or decisive attacking moments to separate the teams. The final score reflected a match in which both teams finished without a change to the scoreboard. Both Sturm Graz and Rennes had also entered the fixture after a draw in their most recent recorded form.

Sturm Graz made three changes

Sturm Graz made its first alteration at half-time, with A. Vallci replaced by A. Malic in the 46th minute. Further changes followed in the second half. B. Beganovic made way for O. Diakite in the 62nd minute, while G. Mamageishvili was replaced by F. Rozga in the same minute.

The substitutions gave several players an opportunity to influence the closing stages, but none produced the goal needed to break the deadlock. Sturm Graz’s changes were completed well before the final whistle, leaving the home side with a reshaped lineup for the final phase.

Rennes also changed its attack

Rennes made its first substitutions in the 73rd minute. M. Tamari was replaced by A. Nordin, and S. Szymanski came off for V. Rongier. A final change arrived in the 80th minute, when L. Blas was replaced by E. Mayenda.

Those moves marked Rennes’ main intervention after the interval, but the visitors also failed to convert their changes into a scoring moment. With no goals recorded, both sets of substitutions became notable for their timing rather than for a direct effect on the result.

Three yellow cards for the hosts

The disciplinary incidents all involved Sturm Graz players. L. Balbo was booked in the 51st minute, followed by F. Ingolitsch in the 63rd. J. Gorenc Stankovic received the final yellow card of the match in the 90th minute.

The late booking closed an eventful disciplinary sequence for the hosts, but no sending-off was recorded. After the final whistle, the teams shared the points, with both remaining unbeaten and carrying identical records of one draw from one league-stage game.