FC Midtjylland 2-0 Sturm Graz Player Ratings: Ousmane Diao Rated 8.5/10 as Dominant Display Secures 2-0 Victory

FC Midtjylland secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz in an important Europa League clash. The Danish side looked comfortable from the outset and kept possession from the first whistle of the match. Their control was evident throughout the match at the MCH Arena. It was a performance that sent a clear message to their group rivals.

The game's complexion was shaped early on. An unfortunate own goal from Sturm Graz keeper Oliver Christensen in the 7th minute gifted Midtjylland the lead. From our perspective, that moment completely deflated the visitors. They struggled to recover their composure for the rest of the half.

The home side continued to press their advantage throughout the match. They controlled possession and created several good opportunities. The second goal felt inevitable, and it finally arrived late on. Ousmane Diao rose highest to head home in the 88th minute, sealing a well-deserved win for FC Midtjylland in this Europa League encounter.

Here are the Midtjylland Vs Sturm Graz Player Ratings

Midtjylland Player Ratings vs Sturm Graz

Here are Midtjylland Player Ratings vs Sturm Graz

Goalkeeper

Elías Ólafsson - 7.5: A very comfortable evening for the keeper. He commanded his area well and made three important saves when called upon. What stood out was his distribution, finding teammates with accuracy. He claimed high balls with confidence, which settled the defense. A clean sheet was the least he deserved for his composed display.

Defenders

Kevin Mbabu - 6.5: An energetic performance down the right flank before being substituted. He delivered some dangerous crosses, creating two chances for his teammates. However, from our perspective, his final product could have been better and he lost possession a bit too often for our liking. A decent, if unspectacular, outing.

Ousmane Diao - 8.5: What a colossal performance. He was an absolute rock at the back, winning most of his duels and making crucial clearances. To top it all off, he scored the decisive second goal with a powerful header. His reading of the game was exceptional, and he was a constant threat from set-pieces. Truly the man of the match for us.

Han-beom Lee - 7.0: A solid and reliable display alongside Diao. He was strong in the air and composed on the ball, completing 82% of his passes. We noticed he made several key interceptions that broke up Sturm Graz's attacks before they became dangerous. He was a calming presence in the backline.

Mads Bech Sørensen - 7.0: The captain led by example with a disciplined performance. He was positionally sound and made a crucial last-man tackle that likely prevented a goal-scoring opportunity. His passing from the back was tidy and helped initiate attacks. A few fouls here and there, but overall a very solid game.

Midfielders

Denil Castillo - 8.0: A powerhouse in the midfield. This guy was everywhere, recovering the ball 10 times and winning 8 of his 10 duels. His energy was infectious, and he provided a fantastic shield for the defense. He even created a big chance, showing his quality going forward. An outstanding, all-action display.

Pedro Bravo - 7.5: The perfect partner for Castillo in the engine room. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning the ball back consistently and making an impressive five interceptions. We were particularly impressed with his defensive work rate. He may not grab headlines but his contribution was immense for the team's balance.

Philip Billing - 6.5: A combative performance from the midfielder, though it was marred by a yellow card. He was physically dominant, winning a good number of his duels, but also committed four fouls. He missed a big chance that he really should have buried. A mixed bag, but his disruptive presence was valuable.

Forwards

Franculino - 6.5: A livewire who caused problems for the opposition defense. His pressure directly led to the opening own goal, which was a huge moment. However, he was frustratingly wasteful, missing a big chance and frequently being caught offside. His decision-making needs to improve, but his raw talent is undeniable.

Gue-sung Cho - 6.5: He was a physical handful for the defenders, winning almost all of his aerial duels. He held the ball up well and brought others into play, even creating a key pass. His influence waned a little before he was substituted at the hour mark. A solid shift without setting the world alight.

Júnior Brumado - 6.0: Worked hard up top but struggled to make a significant impact. He was involved in creating a big chance but often found himself isolated. His pass completion rate was low and he lost possession too many times for our liking. He put in the effort, but it just wasn't his day.

Substitutes

Aral Simsir - 7.0: Came on and provided the crucial assist for the second goal with a brilliant cross. A game-changing contribution.

Adam Gabriel - 6.0: Slotted in seamlessly at the back and helped see out the victory without any fuss.

Edward Chilufya - 6.0: Added fresh legs to the attack but had limited time to make a real impact.

Valdemar Byskov - N/A: Came on too late to receive a rating.

Manager

M. Tullberg - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. The team was organized, defensively solid, and took their chances. The early goal helped, but his side never looked like relinquishing control. Excellent substitutions, especially bringing on Simsir who provided the key assist to seal the win.

Sturm Graz Player Ratings vs Midtjylland

Here are Sturm Graz Player Ratings vs Midtjylland

Goalkeeper

Oliver Christensen - 4.0: A disastrous start to the game for the goalkeeper. The early own goal was a moment of pure misfortune and set a negative tone for his entire team. While he made a few saves later on, the error leading to a goal is what will be remembered. It's a tough night for any keeper when that happens.

Defenders

Emir Karic - 6.5: One of the better performers in a struggling backline. He was active and made an impressive number of tackles, winning most of them. He tried to support the attack but was also caught out defensively, being dribbled past three times. A fighting performance in a losing cause.

Dimitri Lavalée - 6.0: A busy evening for the central defender. He won a lot of headers but struggled against the physicality of Midtjylland's forwards. He lost possession a few too many times under pressure. He put his body on the line but was part of a defense that was second best all night.

Emanuel Aiwu - 5.0: A difficult game for the defender. He struggled with the movement of the opposition attackers and committed several fouls, earning a yellow card. From our perspective, he looked off the pace and was unable to impose himself on the match. A night he'll want to forget quickly.

Tim Oermann - 6.0: Had a decent game before being forced off with an injury. He made a few important tackles and tried to get forward. It's hard to judge his full performance given the early substitution, but he looked committed while he was on the pitch.

Midfielders

Jon Gorenc Stankovic - 6.0: The captain tried to get his team going but it was a tough battle in midfield. He couldn't dictate the tempo as he would have liked against a dominant Midtjylland engine room. He kept his passing tidy but lacked the creative spark needed to unlock the defense.

Tochi Chukwuani - 6.5: A very tidy performance on the ball, with an excellent pass completion rate. He recovered the ball well and was one of the few Sturm Graz players who looked comfortable in possession. However, he offered little threat in the final third and was eventually substituted.

Filip Rózga - 6.5: Looked like one of Sturm Graz's brightest sparks before his match was cut short by injury just before halftime. He was drawing fouls and trying to make things happen. It was a real shame to see him go off, as his team missed his energy in the second half.

Tomi Horvat - 6.0: The main creative outlet for the visitors, creating three chances. The problem was his execution. His crossing was erratic and he lost possession far too many times. There was a lot of effort, but the quality just wasn't there on the night.

Forwards

Seedy Jatta - 5.5: A really tough evening for the forward. He was physically outmatched, losing a high number of his duels and giving away possession cheaply. He was isolated for large parts of the game and couldn't get into dangerous positions. A frustrating outing.

Maurice Malone - 5.5: He had a big chance to score but couldn't convert it. He was booked and struggled to hold onto the ball, being dispossessed multiple times. Like his strike partner, he was largely ineffective against a well-drilled Midtjylland defense.

Substitutes

Jacob Peter Hödl - 6.0: Came on and had a couple of shots but failed to truly test the keeper.

Leon Grgic - 5.5: Added some energy but didn't change the flow of the game.

Belmin Beganovic - N/A: Not on long enough to make an impact.

Stefan Hierländer - N/A: Brought on late in the game.

Julius Beck - N/A: A late cameo appearance.

Manager

J. Säumel - 5.0: His team was on the back foot from the moment they conceded the early own goal. He couldn't find a tactical solution to Midtjylland's midfield dominance. The substitutions didn't have the desired effect, and the team lacked a cutting edge throughout the match. A disappointing start to their Europa League campaign.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Ousmane Diao