Bundesliga
With the home game of defending champion SKN St. Pölten against bottom Wacker Innsbruck and the chasing duel between Sturm Graz and Austria Vienna, the Planet Pure Women’s Bundesliga starts into spring at the weekend. While the roles in St. Pölten on Saturday (2.30 p.m.) are clearly divided, the women from Graz, who have the same points with the SKN, want to keep up with the reigning champions with a home win against Austria on Sunday (10.30 a.m., live on ORF Sport +).
After nine completed rounds, St. Pölten and Sturm Graz are ahead after eight wins and one draw each with 25 points. For the first time in almost ten years, two teams at the top of the table go into spring with the same number of points. Third-placed Austria (six wins, one draw, two defeats) follows six points behind, so they absolutely have to win in the title race and also hope that the top duo will slip up.
On the other hand, Sturm could also take the lead right at the start of spring if the “wolves” surprisingly drop points against Wacker Innsbruck. Nevertheless, the women from Graz have not shifted the set goal for the season upwards. “We’re still chasing the goal of wanting to score points in every game,” said Sturm captain Annabel Schasching. “We know that a lot is possible with this starting position. But it can also go in the other direction very quickly if we cannot build on our performance.”
Storm with a cheeky style of play and dynamics
The 19-year-old, who switched from SKN to Sturm in 2020 and quickly became a leading player in Graz, sees the key to success in her own carelessness. “We are a team made up of many young players who are characterized by their cheeky style of play, dynamism and unpredictability,” says Schasching. “At the same time, we lack composure, experience and callousness in front of goal compared to SKN. It takes a perfect day and the right mix of efficiency and cheekiness.”
Meanwhile, Austria hopes to start a successful race to catch up after a change in the squad during the winter break and the signing of 65-time team player Lisa Makas and U19 national player Katja Dorn. “I think things are going in the right direction now,” said Austria coach Robert Haas. “The upheaval was necessary. We got two really good players in Makas and Dorn.”
Newcomers Vienna would like to continue the strong autumn season away from FC Bergheim. The women from Döbling are currently fourth, while the women from Salzburg are fighting against relegation. In the middle of the table, the former series champion Neulengbach wants to keep up with the top four with a win at FC Südburgenland, who are also worried about staying in the league. In the fifth game, SCR Altach/FFC Vorderland meets Altenmarkt.
