First comes Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga, then Sturm Graz and then nothing for a long time – or not? LASK (7.30 p.m.) can answer this question today in the duel against the Styrians in the Graz Merkur Arena. There is no doubt that this season there is no need to fear the European Cup participants Rapid, Austria and WAC or other teams from the lower regions of the table. But is it enough away against the team that, with the excellent work of the team around sports director Andreas Schicker, has created all the prerequisites to establish itself in the top three of domestic football for years to come?
For LASK sports director Radovan Vujanovic, this question is secondary. “I don’t bother with that. It’s important to me that we make it into the championship play-off so that we can give our fans really good prospects for the future when the new stadium opens. It’s positive that we got off to a good start. Still more than the ten points I’m pleased that we have dominated each of these games and are therefore currently at the top of the table. Nevertheless, it is only a snapshot. We are still in a major upheaval that is far from over.”
Storm coach Christian Ilzer gave compliments before the match: “LASK is rightly the leader of the table. The newcomers were integrated very quickly and are in good shape. It all gives a very coherent picture.” LASK trainer Didi Kühbauer warns: “It will be a very heated game. If we are not fully on the pitch from the first minute, it can also end very badly.”
Ljubicic vs Hojlund
What could be decisive today is whose top scorer plays big: while LASK newcomer Marin Ljubicic can work in peace, there are always transfer rumors about storm star Rasmus Höjlund. Committed to around 1.8 million euros in the previous season, the Grazers could collect the full amount because there will only be an exit clause in the Dane’s contract from summer 2023.
Source: Nachrichten
