Just no relegation derby next week away against SV Guntamatic Ried – that’s the mission of Bundesliga soccer club LASK in today’s home game against Hartberg (5 p.m.).
With a win, the league would be fixed before the last two rounds and the athletes could only look towards the European Cup play-off. In the event of a defeat, the specter of relegation continues to haunt. “If I wasn’t positive, I would be the wrong man,” said the new LASK trainer Dietmar Kühbauer, who is looking forward to his premiere. The spark should jump over to the team, “so that we can get out of this valley and see the sun again. The boys will make it – I’m convinced of that.”
Unbeaten in Pasching
Pasching has always been good ground for him. He remained undefeated there in seven games – as an opponent of LASK: first with St. Pölten, then six times as Rapid coach. He left it open which eleven he will nominate to extend his personal series. In two positions, the Leiberl are still awarded based on the few impressions in training.
Hartberg’s style of play, unbeaten against LASK since June 2020, only played a supporting role in the preparation. “We have to look at ourselves, at our strengths.” Kühbauer did not reveal the formation either. “The system we’re playing will hopefully be the best against Hartberg so that we can win,” said the 51-year-old with a wink. The only thing that is fixed is what he demands of his players: “It’s about the boys going out on the pitch and having fun.” A lot of negative energy has recently emerged because the athletes have not lived up to their expectations. “They should show that we have three points as a goal and that we can take the fans with us.”
“Good access found”
A win would be a step for Kühbauer to win those supporters who are skeptical about him to his side. The player from Burgenland won after just a few days. “The coach made good contact right from the start. We got the signal that we had to go out on the pitch at every training session and do our best in all areas,” said captain Alexander Schlager. “We do what the coach asks of us and try to do those things 100 percent – that’s our responsibility as a team.” He promised a reaction to the 0: 4 in Tyrol – not to mention the change of coach: “We are prepared to step on the gas. Not everything will go perfectly, but it counts that we are poisonous from the first second .”
Ried absolutely has to score
Just no relegation derby next week at home against LASK – that’s the mission of Bundesliga soccer club SV Guntamatic Ried in today’s away game against SCR Altach.
To achieve this goal, at least one defeat is forbidden. Even with a draw you would be a little safer with two rounds to go and still four points ahead of the bottom of the table. In this case, Ried would also remain in front of Altach even if there was a tie due to the direct duels.
“There is enough excitement in the derby. It’s enough if it’s about bonus points in the upward direction,” says sports director Thomas Reicheltshammer. “Such games in the relegation battle are not pleasant, I know that from my own playing time. You still have to get through it, and games like this can also make you stronger as a player.”
And coach Christian Heinle has no doubts that there is the right answer on the pitch today: “I’m sure my team can handle the pressure.
The task is made more difficult by the suspension of Marcel Ziegl, who has to take a break because of the fifth yellow card and will probably be replaced by Daniel Offenbacher. The Altach stadium will be full with 7000 spectators due to a free ticket campaign. But that shouldn’t impress the people of the Innviertel.
Most recently, things went up for the Innviertler, especially in the second half, with a 1-1 win against Admira and a (too high) 0-3 win against Salzburg in the cup final. A good start would be particularly important today: No team scored more goals in the first quarter of an hour than the Innviertlers, and none got more than the Vorarlbergers.
LASK provided support
In addition, the situation at opponent Altach is already extremely tense. The two defeats against LASK (0:1) and Hartberg (0:4) have recently slowed down the race to catch up at the bottom of the table. “We had our first really bad game of this play-off against Hartberg,” confirms coach Ludovic Magnin, whose team is under even more pressure today than Ried.
Derby for millions
The Vienna derby is always charged with explosiveness, in the 336th edition tomorrow between Austria and Rapid it is about the chance of millions: The winner is well on the way to third place, which means a fixed place in the group stage of the Europa League. A tie, their seventh in a row, would see Rapid go two points clear going into the final two rounds. “The derby is a game for our fans,” said Rapids managing director Zoran Barisic, who announced the next upheaval in the summer.
According to coach Manfred Schmid, Austria feels no pressure. His team had this at the beginning of this season when they were at the bottom of the table. “We have a huge starting position, now it’s up to us what we make of it.”
Source: Nachrichten
