Sturm Graz and Sporting Lisbon renew acquaintances when they meet in Klagenfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

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A shock title success in Austria saw Sturm qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 24 years last season, but they have struggled on the step up to this level.

Sturm lost their final two games in their group stage exit in 2000, and they have lost their first two this time around, going down in winnable games away to Brest and at home to Club Brugge.

Previous campaigns in Europe suggested Sturm would struggle, as the only time they have played European football into the new year was last season, when they dropped into the Conference League after finishing third behind Sporting in their Europa League section.

Despite their underwhelming results on the continent, Sturm have been excellent domestically again though, most notably by beating Red Bull Salzburg 5-0 before the international break.

Christian Ilzer's side netted five yet again at the weekend, putting local rivals Grazer to the sword, as Sturm sit top of the Austrian Bundesliga, and are the division's top scorers.

Sporting have also been sensational domestically, winning eight from eight in the league so far, but they encountered some difficulties in the cup on Friday, needing a 94th-minute winner from Conrad Harder to beat second-tier relegation candidates Portimonense.

That did maintain their unbeaten start, extending it to 11 games, with a draw against PSV Eindhoven on matchday two in this competition being the only game Ruben Amorim's side have failed to win this season.

Austria has not been a happy hunting ground for Sporting over the years though, as they have only won on one of their seven trips here, but that was in the meeting with Sturm last season.

History could be made if Sporting claim a result too, because after beating Lille and drawing with PSV, Amorim's men have the opportunity to go three games unbeaten to start a Champions League campaign for the first time since 1962.

They have also never before gone three games in a row without defeat away from home in the Champions League, another feat which could be set here, and they will be fancied, considering they have not lost on the road since Atalanta knocked them out of the Europa League in March.

Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:

Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Lavalee, Aiwu; Yalcouye, Kiteishvili, Chukwuani, Geyrhofer; Boving, Biereth, Jatta

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Israel; Debast, St Juste, Quaresma; Geny Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Nuno Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Quenda