After the 1-2 draw in Graz, the Mozart city-dwellers are not at the top of the Bundesliga table for the first time in two years. An unfamiliar picture, which the people of Salzburg want to change again as soon as possible. Jaissle seemed confident. “After a defeat, we certainly don’t panic or become actionist, but continue to work as usual,” announced the German.
Jaissle emphasized “that defending the title will not be a sure-fire success”, the other clubs would “also develop very well”. Before the duel in Hartberg, his team worked “really well”, the coach emphasized, he was sure that they would show a different face.
Favorite opponent is just right
The East Styrians are just what they need, the Hartbergers are something of a favorite opponent for the “Bulls”. In ten league duels there were nine wins and one draw, with a goal difference of 37:6. Nevertheless, the Salzburgers do not want to underestimate the Styrians. “We saw against Sturm what can happen if we don’t push ourselves to the limit,” said Nicolas Capaldo. New signing Lucas Gourna-Douath will also be absent with an ankle injury, while strikers Junior Adamu and Sekou Koita (both ankles) and Youba Diarra (shin) are doubtful.
Admiral Bundesliga, 3rd Round
Start: 7.30 p.m
Hartberg – Salzburg
Hartberg, Profertil Arena, SR Lechner
Possible lineups:
Hartberg: Swete – Farkas, Sonnleitner, Steinwender, Klem – Fadinger, Ejupi, Heil – Aydin – Tadic, Paintsil
Salzburg: Köhn – Van der Brempt, Solet, Bernardo, Wöber – Seiwald – Sucic, Fernando, Capaldo – Sesko, Okafor
In any case, the game against Salzburg is a “bonus game”, but there is always the hope of a surprise. After the weak performance at 1: 2 at WSG Tirol, the Hartbergers also hope for an increase in performance. “We thought we were further along. The Watteners showed us the limits,” said coach Klaus Schmidt.
Hartberg is still looking for Avdijaj’s successor
“As Hartberg you need a bit of luck to get through certain phases, good gameplay, a good performance and maybe a little impatience from Salzburg,” said Schmidt and joked: “If we all eat our breakfast well, we might have one Chance.” In the last duel in December, the Hartbergers were at least close in Salzburg, the Jaissle-Elf only won 2-1 with two late goals.
“The team did really well against Red Bull and always gave up,” stressed Schmidt, who can draw on his entire squad. However, no longer on creative player Donis Avdijaj, who pulled his exit clause and moved to FC Zurich with coach Franco Foda. Finding a replacement is difficult. “It’s not easy, we need a player who has this level,” emphasized Schmidt.
Storm required in the Innviertel
Sturm Graz wants to improve on one of their favorite opponents a week after beating Salzburg. There have been six wins and one draw against Rieder in the league recently, but the cup defeat in autumn, the good start to the season and the home strength of the “Vikings” should be warning enough.
Admiral Bundesliga, 3rd Round
Start: 5 p.m
Ried – Sturm
Ried, if Arena, SR Spurny
Possible lineups:
Ried: Sahin-Radlinger – Ungar, Lackner, Plavotic – Wießmeier, Ziegl, Martin, Pomer – Nutz, Mikic – Monschein
Sturm: Siebenhandl – Gazibegovic, Wüthrich, Affengruber, Dante – Gorenc-Stankovic – Hierländer, T. Horvat, Prass – Sarkaria, Höjlund
No question for Christian Ilzer, the storm coach is full of respect for the Upper Austrians. “Rieder’s game seems very well thought out and well planned. For me, they absolutely have what it takes to surprise and qualify for the master group, which has also been underpinned by their previous performances,” explained Ilzer. The Innviertler have only conceded one goal so far, their best defensive performance in the first two games of the season in nine years.
“100 percent focus on Ried”
The fact that the trip to the Innviertel falls in the middle of the duel with Dynamo Kyiv for a place in the Champions League play-off is irrelevant to Ilzer. “What’s ahead of us next week doesn’t count now, our 100 percent focus is on the championship and SV Ried. We have to play with the necessary power and energy and show effectiveness and footballing quality to score important points for the championship against Rieder, who are strong at home,” Ilzer demanded.
Ried ended the series of eight games without a win over the season with a 1-0 win against promoted Austria Lustenau, but was not completely convincing. Christian Heinle therefore calls for an increase. “We have to be more aggressive against Sturm Graz and find security on the ball again. If we just go back, we won’t stand a chance against Sturm Graz,” explained the SVR coach. His team can rely on home strength and a defensive that has been difficult to overcome so far this season. The Rieder only lost two home games last season.
WAC and LASK still undefeated
WAC and LASK are still undefeated after two rounds and want to continue this trend in a direct duel in the Lavanttal Arena. The Carinthians are under a little more pressure in front of their home crowd, after all, after three competitive draws in a row including the European Cup disappointment, they finally have to write fully.
Admiral Bundesliga, 3rd Round
Start: 5 p.m
WAC – LASK
Wolfsberg, Lavanttal Arena, SR Eisner
Possible lineups:
WAC: Bonmann – Baumgartner, Piesinger, D. Gugganig – Jasic, Kerschbaumer, Taferner, Leitgeb, Scherzer – Röcher, Baribo
SHOT: Schlager – Potzmann, Ziereis, Luckeneder, Renner – Hong, Jovicic – Goiginger, Horvath, Nakamura – Ljubicic
The goalless record against Maltese club Gzira United FC on Wednesday in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the Conference League in Klagenfurt did not exactly boost confidence. Nevertheless, three points are planned. “LASK has a new character thanks to its new coach, but we still want to do everything we can to win at home,” said WAC coach Robin Dutt.
The 1:1 home win against Sturm Graz and the late 2:2 in Altach in the league were more of a sense of achievement. Linz, on the other hand, got off to a better start, defeating Austria Klagenfurt 3-1 and drawing away from Vienna Austria 1-1. The third championship group participant from last season in a row is now waiting.
Kühbauer wants to build on a good start
“Our start to the season was solid, we’re on the right track – we want to build on that in Wolfsberg,” said LASK trainer Dietmar Kühbauer, who still has to do without the suspended Peter Michorl. However, the opponent brings a lot of quality with him. “They have proven that again and again and with great consistency in recent years. We’ll have to do everything we can away from home, especially physically,” the Burgenlander knew. Under his leadership, the people of Linz will play against the WAC for the first time.
Last season, the Carinthians narrowly had the upper hand twice against Linz 1-0. They had also managed to reverse the trend after the previous season had seen defeats in all four clashes. For the first time ever, the Wolfsbergers hold against LASK with two wins in a row, and that too without conceding a goal.
