Goal-crazy Graz set to star in our 14/1 acca

Lee Bassin
23 July 2021

Two of Austria’s biggest guns are set to fire, Dinamo Moscow and Genk can avoid defeat on the road, while Dinamo Zagreb can shine in a brand new local derby.

After a feast of European soccer this week there's a quieter Friday in prospect, but there's still the opening matches of the Russian, Belgian and Austrian leagues to enjoy.

And the pick of the games is in Austria, where Sturm Graz vs Red Bull Salzburg usually means goals aplenty.

Sturm Graz vs Red Bull Salzburg

The Austrian Bundesliga begins with a clash between two sides that seem to bring the best out of each other, as last season Sturm Graz and RB Salzburg shared two wins apiece, scoring 15 goals between them in the process.

Both teams have also been among the goals in recent weeks, with Graz scoring nine times on two separate occasions and Salzburg averaging almost three goals a game in their last four matches in all competitions.

Both sides have scored in nine out of the last 10 clashes between the two outfits, and look set to provide plenty more goals in the league opener.

FK Rostov vs Dinamo Moscow

Moscow may be favourites here but Rostov have not lost at home to the Loudspeakers since 2014, winning four and drawing two of their last six clashes at the imaginatively named Rostov Arena.

Add to the fact that Dinamo managed just three wins in their eight pre-season match-ups and there's not a lot of evidence to suggest the visitors will open their campaign with a victory.

Standard Liege vs Genk

Genk start as favourites after finishing fourth in the Belgian top flight last season, before winning five and drawing one in the subsequent four-team play-off to decide European qualification.

Both clashes between these sides ended in draws last season, but Genk lifted the Belgian Cup thanks to a win over Liege.

The visitors will certainly be tough to beat, but with home advantage we reckon Liege can avoid defeat and hold out for another stalemate.

Hrvatski Dragovoljac vs Dinamo Zagreb

Last year's Croatian top-flight champions face a local derby against newly-promoted Hrvatski Dragovoljac, who started life in the Croatian First Football League with a loss last time out.

Zagreb also fell to a shock defeat on the opening day, but either side of that match they enjoyed three consecutive Champions League qualifying game wins.

Even away from home this should be a slam dunk for the champs, and a Dinamo drubbing is on the cards.