Ried’s hopes against Hartberg rest on a Styrian

At the start of spring, a real basement duel awaits Bundesliga soccer club SV Guntamatic Ried: On Sunday (2.30 p.m.) the Innviertlers welcome bottom-placed Hartberg at home. Ironically, the hopes against the last from Styria rest on a Styrian: Christoph Lang.

Even before his league debut in the Rieder jersey, the 21-year-old has fond memories of the Josko Arena: the new signing from Rieder saw his first Bundesliga start against the Vikings, where he lost in a 1-1 draw against Sturm Graz in early August scored to lead 1-0. In the winter, the offensive player moved to Upper Austria on loan, he should liven up the offensive with his dynamism: “Starting against a Styrian team naturally motivates me twice. I want to gain match practice in Ried and develop further,” says Lang, who wants to recommend himself to his regular club with good performances: “The competition at Sturm is fierce. Ried is an ideal step for me, they tried very hard for me. That gives me a good feeling.”

Wendlinger is in goal

There will also be a debut in goal: Jonas Wendlinger replaces the injured Samuel Sahin-Radlinger. “He has already performed well in the cup games, it’s a confirmation of his good work. Richard Strebinger has only completed five training sessions with the team and still needs some time,” explained Ried trainer Christian Heinle.

In addition to Philipp Pomer and the long-term injured Sahin-Radlinger, Marcel Ziegl and Nikola Stosic, new signing Aleksandar Lutovac, for whom the playing permit is still missing, will also be missing.