With the 1-0 win at Maccabi Tel Aviv, LASK secured first place two weeks ago and thus promotion to the round of 16, which also saves Alexander Schlager and Co. two play-off games. For Helsinki, on the other hand, third place is fixed before the last group game, the game in front of a “ghost backdrop” in the huge alternative area of the Wörthersee Stadium will therefore only contain trace elements.
“Every European Cup game is a highlight for LASK,” said Wieland nonetheless. “It’s all the better that we can already go into the game as group winners. After nine successful games in the European Cup, we want to bring the international football year 2021 to a good end tomorrow. “
Sixth matchday
Thursday, 6.45 p.m .:
Live on ORF1 and live stream
LASK – HJK Helsinki
Klagenfurt, SR Pajac (CRO)
Possible setups:
LASK: Schlager – Wiesinger, Boller, Luckeneder, Renner – Hong, Grgic – Gruber, Horvath, Goiginger – Karamoko
Helsinki: Keto – Moren, Tem, O’Shaugnessy, Murillo – Jair, Lingman, Tanaka – Valencic, Ro. Riski, Browne
Victory in the Upper Austria derby “important for the head”
So far, LASK has recorded four wins and one draw (goal difference 9: 1) in the group stage, so anything but a success would come as a surprise. But the performances were mixed, also most recently in the decisive 1-0 success in Tel Aviv. This was followed by another blow to the neck in the league with the 1: 2 in Hartberg, before a three-point was finally achieved last Sunday with the 1-0 win in the Upper Austria derby against Ried.
An “important win for the head too,” said midfielder Sascha Horvath, who converted the decisive penalty against the Innviertel team. The LASK offensive is still looking for forms. With inconsistently played actions and harmlessness in front of the goal, the “athletes” make life difficult for themselves. The “test” against Helsinki at least offers the opportunity to sharpen the game.
Helsinki no longer in league operations
Finland’s record champions, who fixed their 31st title on October 31, are no longer in the league and can also play freely. In November, HJK only played two games. At Maccabi Tel Aviv they lost 3-0 a month ago, and two weeks ago they celebrated a 1-0 home win against Alashkert with no points.
