The first round of Austria´s tipp 3 Bundesliga starts on Saturday with the fixture between SV Josko Ried and SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz. The match is set at the Keine Sorgen Arena in Ried, Referee will be Thomas Gangl.

SV Josko Ried - SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz
tipp3-Bundesliga: Match day 1
Date: 17.July.2010 - 18.30 CET
Stadium: Keine Sorgen Arena, Ried
Referee: Thomas Gangl

SV Ried played some good friendly-matches in the summer break, and it looks like the team is able to compensate the departure of the SV Ried legend Herwig Drechsel. Another positive aspect is the comeback of the team captain Oliver Glasner after his injury. The ambition for Ried is to stay in the first League in Austria, the tipp3 Bundesliga.

SK Sturm Graz sold one of his most talented players Jakob Jantscher to Red Bull Salzburg. Now it will be interesting to see, how they can compare this deficit. After Sturm Graz won the Stiegel Cup last year they are authorized to start in the third qualification round of the UEFA Europe-League. The two dates for the qualification games are the 29^th of July and the 5^th of August.

SV Josko Ried:
Keeper: Gebauer
Defenders: Riegler, Stocklasa, Sammer, Zuji
Midfielders: Hackmaier, Schrammel, Huspek, Nacho
Forwards: Prettenthaler, Hammerer
Coach: Paul Gludovatz
Injured: -
Booked: -

SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz:
Keeper: Gratzei
Defenders: Standfest, Schildenfeld, Feldhofer, Pürcher
Midfielders: Hölzl, Weber, Kienzl, Bukva
Forwards: Kienast, Szabics
Coach: Franco Foda
Injured: Klaus Salmutter
Booked: -

Referee: Thomas Gangl

Like the whole week, we will have over 35 degrees on Saturday. The extreme heat will be a problem for both of the teams. And I also think there won't be a lot of fans because of the heat.

Last meeting: Friendly Game, 1.May.2010, SV Josko Ried 1 : 2 SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz
Wins Ried: 13
Wins Sturm: 33
Draw: 8

I think it will be a very rough game on Saturday with a lot of fouls. Both of the teams will try not to become an early goal, and so I think it will be a close game in which Sturm Graz will be the winner in the end.

Bookies and odds

The best odds for "Win Sturm" you will find at Bet365, BetClick and Interwetten.