Sturm Graz have been an excellent team to target for corners this season, as they are averaging 11.7 across all competitions. This selection has landed in eight of their last ten matches overall, and the two misses finished on exactly nine corners. 

Bournemouth’s average of 9.4 corners is slightly lower, but their games have also been quite open, with chances typically available at both sides. The south coast side come into this clash as heavy favourites, but they have looked vulnerable in midfield. Alex Scott being out is also a massive blow, so Sturm Graz should find chances on the break.

Bournemouth have one of the worst disciplinary records in the Premier League so far after six matches. They have picked up 18 yellow cards - only Hull have been carded more. That includes four yellow cards against Chelsea last time out. Even in the Europa League, there were six cards shown in Bournemouth’s round one fixture against Real Sociedad, with three apiece. 

Sturm Graz haven’t been as aggressive, but they are still averaging 3.73 cards per game across all competitions this season, with 2.0 for, and 1.7 against. The Austrian side have been awarded at least two bookings in each of their last seven consecutive matches across all competitions.

Rayan wasn’t very willing to track back defensively against Chelsea last time out, which left Tyler Adams and Ryan Christie exposed at Stamford Bridge. The American international struggled without his usual partner Alex Scott, and Adams accounted for five of Bournemouth’s 15 infringements - he eventually picked up a yellow. 

Adams has committed 13 fouls in five starts this season, landing this selection in four of those. That includes two fouls against Real Sociedad, despite being replaced after 63 minutes. His average of 2.69 fouls per 90 is comfortably the highest in the Bournemouth squad, highlighting a real willingness to get stuck into duels.

Paul Koller has contributed one yellow card to Sturm Graz’s tally this season, but the Austrian defender is perhaps lucky in that regard. He is averaging 1.53 fouls per 90, and has been one of the most consistent players in the Sturm Graz teams when it comes to committing fouls. Koller has landed this selection in six of his seven starts this season. That includes one foul against Rennes in round one of the Europa League. 

Koller will be matched up against Evanilson on Thursday night - the Brazilian is averaging 2.3 fouls drawn per 90 this campaign, and he has drawn multiple free-kicks in five out of seven starts in total.

Rayan scored Bournemouth’s second goal during their impressive 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad, marking his first Europa League appearance with a winning goal. The Brazilian international looks set for a massive role under Marco Rose this season, and he played centrally against Chelsea at the weekend in the absence of Justin Kluivert. 

The 20-year-old has recorded 18 shots across all competitions this season, with eight of those hitting the target. He has landed this selection in six of his eight appearances overall, and both of his goals this season have been when Bournemouth have played midweek. This looks like a favourable matchup to target Rayan again, as the Cherries should be able to carve out good chances against Sturm Graz.

Bournemouth have one of the worst disciplinary records in the Premier League so far after six matches. They have picked up 18 yellow cards - only Hull have been carded more. That includes four yellow cards against Chelsea last time out. Even in the Europa League, there were six cards shown in Bournemouth’s round one fixture against Real Sociedad, with three apiece. 

Sturm Graz haven’t been as aggressive, but they are still averaging 3.73 cards per game across all competitions this season, with 2.0 for, and 1.7 against. The Austrian side have been awarded at least two bookings in each of their last seven consecutive matches across all competitions.

Sunderland come into this clash under pressure following their 2-0 defeat against Brighton, as they have lost each of their last three consecutive league matches. However, they did manage a positive start in their European campaign, beating AZ Alkmaar 1-0 before the break. It was a dominant performance from the Black Cats, who eventually found the decisive goal through Enzo Le Fee from the spot. 

Once again, there is a massive gulf in quality between these two sides, and Sunderland will hope to capitalise. Torreense qualified to the Europa League after winning the Portuguese Cup last season, but they are massive underdogs in the competition. In fact, they currently sit 15th in the Portuguese second division with the record of one win, three draws and three losses.

Both sides made winning starts to their Europa League campaigns, as Lyon beat Anderlecht 2-1 in Belgium, while Crystal Palace dismantled Lech Poznan 4-0 at Selhurst Park. Over 2.5 goals has landed in six out of eight matches for Palace this season, and their recent encounter against Nottingham Forest was particularly open. 

Lyon have also been an entertaining side to watch, especially when playing on home turf. Over 2.5 goals has landed in four out of their five matches, with BTTS in three of those. They came away with a 4-0 win over Rennes in their last outing at the Groupama Stadium, and a 3-1 victory over Auxerre before that.

Benfica are heavy favourites here, and I can’t see past them winning and scoring at least a couple of goals in the process.

Marco Silva’s men claimed arguably the most eye-catching result of matchday one in the Europa League, securing a 2-0 win away to AC Milan. 

They’ve also made a reasonably strong start to their Primeira Liga campaign, winning six of their opening eight matches and scoring multiple goals in each of those victories, including each of their last three at home.

It’s also worth pointing out that the Lisbon heavyweights hit Hearts for six during Europa League qualifying at the Estadio da Luz.

Celtic picked up a morale-boosting 2-0 win away to Motherwell at the weekend, but were humbled 3-1 at home by Ferencvaros in their Europa League opener. 

The Hoops also conceded four goals in 90 minutes away to LASK Linz during Champions League qualifying, which does not bode well ahead of Thursday’s trip to Portugal.