Hartberg defeats Grazer AK 4-0 as Hoffmann scores twice

Stadion Graz-Liebenau Defeat Ruins Milestone

Grazer AK entered Friday’s fixture looking to mark their 1,000th Bundesliga match in club history with a victory, but instead extended their winless run across all competitions to six matches. The hosts struggled from the opening whistle under manager Gerald Scheiblehner. GAK currently sits eighth in the Bundesliga standings with 27 goals conceded after eleven matches, while Hartberg climbed to fifth place following their largest league victory of the campaign.

Early Injury Drama and Hoffmann’s Double Strike

The match began with a contentious challenge just one minute in, when Alexander Hofleitner caught Hartberg captain Paul Komposch with an over-hard tackle. Referee Isa Simsek issued no yellow card for the foul, prompting vociferous protests from Hartberg coach Markus Schopp on the touchline, for which the manager was subsequently cautioned. Komposch limped off the pitch in the seventh minute and was replaced by Lukas Spendlhofer, with Hartberg managing director Erich Korherr later expressing fears of a severe leg injury.

Hartberg capitalized on their territorial dominance in the 12th minute. Angelo Gattermayer steered a rebound toward the center, where Hoffmann finished artistically with his heel to open the scoring. In the 25th minute, Magnus Dalpiaz sliced through a porous, injury-depleted GAK defense before feeding Hoffmann, who lifted a shot over goalkeeper Cican Stankovic into the short corner for his eighth goal of the season.

Second-Half Surge and Fan Frustration

Grazer AK mounted brief resistance late in the first half when debutant Petar Markovic struck the crossbar from a free-kick, and goalkeeper Armin Pecsi denied two powerful efforts from Peter Michorl. However, the visitors regained complete control after the interval.

In the 63rd minute, Feldhofer played a one-two with Gattermayer on a counterattack to net Hartberg’s third goal. The player celebrated by demonstratively pointing to the name on his jersey—bearing the surname of his father, former GAK coach Ferdinand Feldhofer. Three minutes later, Stankovic saved a shot from Dalpiaz that deflected off Martin Sollbauer and ricocheted off Pines into the GAK net for an own goal.

The 4–0 scoreline triggered chants of Wir haben die Schnauze voll (“We’ve had enough”) from the restless GAK supporters. The defeat follows previous heavy losses for the Grazer side this season, including an 0:8 defeat to SK Rapid, a 1:6 derby loss to SK Sturm Graz, and a 0:4 ÖFB-Cup exit against Altach.

Disciplinary Trouble and Next Fixtures

Compounding their evening, GAK starters Alexander Hofleitner and Peter Michorl both received their fifth yellow cards of the campaign during the match, ruling them both out through suspension for the upcoming fixture in Lustenau. Hartberg prepares for their next league assignment as they consolidate their position in the upper half of the table.

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