After the international break, the 10th round of the Bundesliga is on the program for the weekend. On Saturday, leader of the table Salzburg welcomes pursuers LASK, who have not won in three rounds, in the top game. Rapid Vienna, which recently improved 1-1 in Salzburg, wants to take another step out of the crisis at WSG Tirol. Wolfsberger AC has to go to promoted Austria Lustenau. Kick-off is at 5 p.m. each day.
For series champions Salzburg, it is the start of an intense phase before the World Cup break. Twelve compulsory players have to be completed in six weeks, on Wednesday in the Champions League against the Croatian leaders Dinamo Zagreb for important points in group E. From the perspective of the Mozart city it is all the more valuable that all of the national teams from Salzburg have returned healthy , as coach Matthias Jaissle announced. Especially since the muscle injury in Brazilian attacker Fernando seems to be worse, as Jaissle said. Benjamin Sesko’s strong performance for Slovenia with goals against Sweden and Norway also gives confidence.
However, the task against LASK will not be easy. Didi Kühbauer’s team have strengthened “very well” this year, emphasized Jaissle, “it was also clearly visible in the analysis what quality they bring with them, especially on the offensive. They have clear principles and clear patterns. The handwriting of the coach is recognizable as that. We have to be very focused and put everything on the pitch.”
Salzburg have been unbeaten in the Bundesliga for 31 home games, but Linz managed to win 3-2 in Wals-Siezenheim in February 2020. “Salzburg is in a league of its own in Austria and therefore the clear favorite on Saturday,” said Kühbauer. But: “If we throw everything in and manage to keep up the intense pace, something is possible for us.” In the top game, Kühbauer can fall back on the recently suspended top performers Marin Ljubicic, Branko Jovicic and Filip Stojkovic.
Six wins in a row: Things couldn’t have gone better for Rapid against WSG Tirol lately. The Tyroleans could therefore come at the right time for the Viennese on Saturday. After the remarkable 1-1 draw in Salzburg before the international break, the Green-Whites, who are only eighth in the table, need to make up ground in Innsbruck in order to ensure calm before the Vienna derby. “Be humble, work hard, put basic virtues on the pitch and collect points,” said Rapid coach Ferdinand Feldhofer. His team wants to build on the appearance in Salzburg. “I want to see the mentality and approach again this Saturday,” said Feldhofer.
With one game more on points, WSG Tirol is level with and just behind Rapid in ninth place. Coach Thomas Silberberger said before the meeting: “Even if they are in turbulent waters, they always have traction. Rapid Wien will always be the favorite against WSG Tirol.” Of course, his team can still calculate something. Silberberger addressed the famous “Daily Constitution”. “If we act like LASK, we can catch them anywhere.”
After three wins in the last four games, the WAC emerges from the international break highly motivated. At Austria Lustenau, the Carinthians want to finally forget the weak start to the season and overtake the climber in the table. “Our path has been laid out over several years, and we’re right on target there,” said coach Robin Dutt, satisfied with the development in advance. “We wanted to keep in touch with the champions group. We’re going in a good direction.” The sixth-placed “Wolves” on Lustenau, who recently took only two points from four games, are missing a point.
With Salzburg, Austria, LASK and Sturm, however, Lustenau also had to deal with opponents who, according to the paper form, should be placed above the “Ländle” team. “The weeks begin when you play against teams that are right next to us or behind us in the table,” explained Lustenau coach Markus Mader. According to the WAC, his squad competes with Klagenfurt, WSG and SV Ried.