2023-05-27 21:20:53
The championship title and the second and third places are fixed before the last two rounds of the domestic soccer league. Thus, the long-distance duel for rank 4, which entitles you to participate in the 3rd round of the Conference League qualification, is the focus of the master group games of the 31st round on Sunday. Wiener Austria currently holds this place, one point behind is city rivals Rapid, another two points behind Klagenfurt is waiting for Wiener Umfaller.
Rapid has vice champion and cup winner Sturm Graz as guests on Sunday, Austria wants to score full points in Linz at LASK and Austria Klagenfurt points to a surprise with the “bulls” from Salzburg, who have already been confirmed as champions again. All three games begin at 5 p.m.
Austria still has everything in their own hands in this three-way battle for the fixed European Cup starting place. After the guest appearance at LASK, there is still a home game against champions Salzburg – and both opponents have already cemented their place in the table. Nevertheless, after three draws against Austria, LASK wants to write fully for the first time. Curious fact: all ten goals of the season so far in the encounters have come in the second half of the game.
For Austria coach Michael Wimmer, of course, only one win counts in the Linz Arena. The offensive around Haris Tabakovic should set it up in front of neo-president Kurt Gollowitzer, but the defense will have to work hard against Keito Nakamura and Co. “It will be important for us to be stable on the defensive and go onto the pitch with the right attitude,” said Wimmer. “LASK is a really good team that is guaranteed not to sit back and play at full power,” suspected the Austria coach.
The direct competitors of the “Veilchen”, Rapid and Klagenfurt, also have opponents in Sturm and Salzburg, whose place in the final table has already been determined. Of course, Rapid also wants to score three points – and thus end two negative series: On the one hand, Hütteldorfer have been waiting for a win against Styria for ten games, and they have recently played seven games without a win in a row. “I’m optimistic,” said sporting director Markuskatzer in the run-up to the game.
Rapid coach Zoran Barisic expects “a courageous performance from us” and “more efficiency” in evaluating chances than last time. Last week, top scorer Guido Burgstaller missed a penalty against LASK. The use of goalkeeper Niklas Hedl, who is suffering from a shoulder injury just a few days before the ÖFB squad was announced for the European Championship qualifiers against Belgium and Sweden, is questionable. Barisic wants to decide on his squad status for Sunday after training on Saturday. Dejan Petrovic, who, like Lion Schuster and Christoph Knasmüllner, does not receive a contract for the coming season, is definitely out due to knee problems.
For Sturm Graz, on the other hand, the air from the season is outside. The cup winner missed the championship title and thus the double, but secured second place. Cat’s counterpart Andreas Schicker wants to see fire in the other two games and avoid an end like a year ago. “We didn’t manage to keep the tension high. This is an absolute task for the team this year, where we want to read a development,” said the sports director to APA.
And then Austria Klagenfurt would like to have a say in the coveted European Cup place. This requires a sensation from Master Salzburg, who could no longer be fully concentrated at work. In any case, coach Peter Pacult is in the mood for a “hot fight”: “Up until now, even the big players had a hard time against us because we work hard, are compact, block the spaces and can make good use of the few opportunities. ” The warhorse coach emphasized the will of his team.
And Salzburg? As in the previous year, the “Bulls” received the championship plate after a home game against the Carinthians. “Klagenfurt showed up lately, but we want to say goodbye to the fans with a win,” announced coach Matthias Jaissle. What is certain is that Alexander Walke, who will soon be 40 and last number 3 among Salzburg’s goalies, will be in goal and playing his farewell game for Salzburg in the starting XI.
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