RSC Anderlecht received the Austrian Sturm Graz as part of the fourth matchday of the Europa League on Thursday 3rd November 2011. The Purple & White secured their place in the round of 32 of the Europa League after a 3-0 victory over the team from Austria - their fourth win in a row, with still two games to go.

Anderlecht coach Ariël Jacobs started with the same line-up as for Sunday’s match against Lierse. Sporting started the match best, but the first opportunity of the game was only created after ten minutes of play. Matias Suarez was stopped by goalie Cavlina. On the other side Weber hit the side of the net. Halfway through the first half, Wolf took a swing from a distance, but Proto made the save. Somewhat later on, the home team did take the lead. Matias Suarez pushed through on the right wing and Guillaume Gillet put the Argentinian’s cross in with a powerful shot: 1-0. Anderlecht also created opportunities via Jovanovic and Marecek, but the score stayed the same for the remainder of the first half.

In the second half the visitors were not able to surprise Anderlecht. And when Ferdinand Feldhofer was shown the red card after sixty minutes of play, Sporting really pulled away. Fifteen minutes before the final whistle, Marcin Wasilewski delivered a perfect assist for Matias Suarez, against whom the Austrian goalie did not stand a chance: 2-0. Five minutes later on, Sacha Kljestan reached substitute Tom De Sutter, who put the 3-0 final score on the board.

The Purple & White keep their perfect lead in group L after their fourth successive win. The other group L match ended in a 1-3 victory for Lokomotiv Moskou on the pitch of AEK. Sporting’s next game will take place in Athens against AEK on Thursday 1st December 2011.