“We can, but we don’t have to,” says Robert Ibertsberger, coach of SV Guntamatic Ried, before today’s so important home game against WSG Tirol in understatement. But the 45-year-old also knows very well: With three remaining rounds in the regular season, a win against the Tyroleans in the fight for the championship group is needed today. At least six points must come from the three games against Tirol, in Klagenfurt and Sturm Graz. Today’s task is the easiest, at least on paper. The Tyroleans also have to risk today in order to keep their own mini-chance alive with a win. Ried coach Robert Ibertsberger only looks at his own team: “We already dominated the game at the start of spring in Wolfsberg. We now have enough self-confidence that a defeat won’t throw us off course.”

He has to change his team today: Due to Leo Mikic’s absence due to the corona virus, Nene Dorgeles celebrates his starting eleven debut, Daniel Offenbacher replaces Marcel Ziegl. The opponent falls out with Thomas Sabitzer, the triple goal scorer from the first leg. It is uncertain whether top striker Giacomo Vrioni will be back in the squad. The Juventus-Turin loan was not in the spring opener against Sturm Graz (2: 2) for disciplinary reasons. With his quality (nine goals) he would be extremely important for attacking the top six. “We know that Wattens is preparing in Lohnsburg and that Vrioni is there,” said Ibertsberger with a smile.

West grandstand open in the cup

Ried still has to do without the fans in the west sector behind the goal today. In the cup semi-final against Hartberg, the grandstand is open again. In an emergency, 500 seat shells are installed so that we can count on the “12th man” in the game of the year.

LASK: Only with a win there is a final against Salzburg for Linz

There is only one goal for LASK at Admira today: a win must be achieved at all costs in order to have a real final at home against Red Bull Salzburg next week. Only with a complete success does the mini-chance live to move into the master play-off. And only with a complete success do all the thoughts that you are already having in the background to have a full house against Salzburg next week really make sense. The federal government’s preliminary drafts for the next Corona regulation give reason to hope that standing room will be able to be opened without automatically closing the entire gastro. And Salzburg in particular had shown this week in the Champions League how much you can surpass yourself even as an outsider against a seemingly overwhelming opponent at home.

Coach Andreas Wieland: “We want to build on the first 65 minutes from the Klagenfurt game and at the same time minimize our own errors.”

In order to achieve this goal, newcomer Branko Jovicic will liven up the Linz headquarters for the first time right from the start. Since Peter Michorl is suspended and Hong is also not available injured, the human resources in the center are limited anyway. As a squad alternative for the headquarters, Marco Sulzner (18) will be raised by the Juniors Upper Austria. The native of Upper Austria, who has been playing in the LASK youth team since he was 15, just extended his contract with the Linzers a few weeks ago.

Tenth win in a row?

In defense, Philipp Wiesinger will probably be in the starting XI for the first time in the spring, Filip Twardzik is likely to switch to the left full-back position to replace the sick René Renner. Husein Balic is rested. The winger had missed part of the preparation because he had to do his military service in January. Now the load will probably be dosed so as not to risk a longer break after Balic had to leave the field early in the Cup against Salzburg.
Admira is LASK’s favorite opponent. A complete success today would be the tenth win in the tenth league game in a row for the Black and Whites.