In Pasching, the pressure is entirely on LASK, a win is almost mandatory. In any case, goalie Alexander Schlager is confident about the top six. “It’s not the rosiest of prospects, but I’m optimistic about the champions group. It’s a difficult, but doable way, “said the ÖFB team player. After Klagenfurt, LASK still has to deal with Admira (a), Salzburg (h) and WAC (a).
Coach Andreas Wieland showed respect for the opening opponent. “They have good solutions when in possession, use their wings quickly and have a clear centre-forward in Pink,” said the 38-year-old, expecting “an intense game”. Wieland can again rely on Philipp Wiesinger, who extended his contract until 2024. Midfield signing Branko Jovicic is also in the squad.
Bundesliga, 19th round
Start 5 p.m.:
LASK – Klagenfurt
Pasching, Raiffeisen-Arena, SR Hameter
Possible lineups:
LASK: Schlager – Potzmann, Boller, Twardzik, Renner – Holland, Michorl – Goiginger, Horvath, Gruber – Raguz
Klagenfurt: Menzel – Gezos, Mahrer, Saravanja, Schumacher – Gemicibasi, Cvetko – Timossi Andersson, Roberts, Rieder – Pink
Klagenfurt with personnel worries
Meanwhile, Klagenfurt coach Peter Pacult is missing an entire team, 13 players are out against LASK for various reasons. In comparison to the 2-0 defeat in the cup against Guntamatic Ried, central defender Nicolas Wimmer (flu) and midfielder Patrick Greil (adductors) added two more important players to the absentee list. Goalie Phillip Menzel is not one of them, the German extended his contract in Klagenfurt on Friday until 2024.
Pacult, who is about to play his 200th game as a Bundesliga coach, sees his role as a constant reminder confirmed after the setback in the cup. “We haven’t achieved anything yet, we have to push our limits in every game to survive. We didn’t manage to do that in Ried. I hope it was a slip that sharpens the senses. Setbacks are part of it, but you have to learn from them,” said the 62-year-old.
With the 0:3 against Puntigamer Sturm Graz before the winter break and the 0:2 against Ried, Klagenfurt lost two competitive games en suite for the first time this season. Officially, Austria is about staying in the league. “We know the goal is to stay up and we know we can do that in four weeks. But we’re the underdogs in every game, the climbers. That applies despite fourth place,” added sports director Matthias Imhof.
Admira retreads against Hartberg
Before the start of spring, Admira is three points ahead of the bottom Cashpoint Admira. The southern townspeople struggled offensively and defensively in the autumn round. Five new players arrived in the winter, while nine professionals left the club. The farewell to Luca Kronberger, who docked with Sturm Graz, was painful but not unexpected. Central defender Niko Datkovic, who was drawn to Mirandes in Spain’s second division, also leaves a gap.
Coach Andreas Herzog and sports director Marcel Ketelaer have high hopes for the newcomers. “We have a really good competition now,” said Herzog. Samuel Major, Luan, Jan Vodhanel, Vladimir Nikolow and Stefano Surdanovic all have the potential to prove real reinforcements – although patience is required for now. Defender Luan and midfielder Vodhanel, for example, haven’t been able to gain much match practice lately.
Bundesliga, 19th round
Start 2.30 p.m.:
Hartberg-Admira
Hartberg, Profertil Arena, SR Ebner
Possible lineups:
Hartberg: Swete – Farkas, Sonnleitner, Rotter, Klem – Kainz, Diarra – Heil, Avdijaj, Aydin – Tadic
Admire: Leitner – Major, Schmiedl, Bauer, Lukacevic – Ebner, Malicsek, Vodhanel – Kerschbaum – Surdanovic, Mustapha
“We basically want to improve our offensive game. We got new players for that. We hope that they will do their part to make our game more dangerous and concrete in the last third, because we were lacking goals in the close encounters in autumn,” Herzog explained.
For Hartberg there is “only one motto”
Hartberg, bottom of the table, is currently three points away from sixth place – at least that’s where you want to be at the end of the regular season. In the 2-1 cup success at Rapid, the Styrians showed a strong team performance, although various regulars were in CoV quarantine. Coach Russ can now draw on the full again against Admira. Only the use of goalkeeper Rene Swete is still a question mark.
“There is only one motto for us. We won against Rapid in the Cup and definitely want to do more. But we can expect a completely different game than in Vienna. Admira attaches great importance to the moments of transition, so we have to be in good shape in the remaining defense and be wide awake,” Russ announced. “We need three wins in the next four games. It would be good if we started against Admira,” added the head coach and appealed to the fans to come to the stadium in large numbers. The spectator limit no longer applies from Saturday.
