The Bundesliga can look forward to a new young striker in Marin Ljubicic. The Croatian scored a four-pack at Wolfsberger AC in the LASK 5:1 gala in Lavanttal (1st, 20th, 37th, 57th minute). He now has six goals this season. With seven points, the people of Linz are the leaders of the table, at least for one night. Thomas Goiginger (8th) was also allowed to enter the top scorers list for the Upper Austrians.
For the inferior WAC, in which Michael Novak scored the consolation goal (61st), on the other hand, the dress rehearsal for the second leg in the Conference League on Tuesday in Malta against Gzira United – where after the meager home 0-0 there was an embarrassing European Cup To prevent from – gone terribly wrong. With only two points from three games, the still winless Carinthians in the league have to orientate themselves downwards for the time being.
SV Ried showed a lot of morale against runner-up Sturm Graz and scored a point when outnumbered. At home, the Innviertler fought back after being 1-0 down and Leo Mikic (62nd) excluded. Christoph Monschein saved Ried from defeat with a foul penalty (77th) and with his first goal in the Rieder dress equalized the lead in Graz by debutant Christoph Lang (11th). Storm coach Christian Ilzer had given some of the regulars a breather before the important second leg at home against Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League qualifier on Tuesday. The first leg was lost 0:1.
Series champions Salzburg are still looking for their top form in the early part of the season. The “Bulls” shook off the Graz defeat with a callous performance in the second half at the blatant outsider TSV Hartberg and celebrated a 2-0 win. Thanks to goals from the South American duo Fernando (50th) and Nicolas Capaldo (60th), Salzburg hold six points after three rounds and are one point behind LASK in second place before Sunday’s games.
On Sunday, Rapid can regain the lead in the home game against newly promoted Austria Lustenau, WSG Tirol welcome Austria Klagenfurt and Wiener Austria visit Altach (all at 5:00 p.m.).