Image: GEPA pictures/ Manfred Binder
In the Upper Austria derby at SV Ried, LASK is looking for the third win in the third game of the new year. The third-placed players from Linz go into the last game before the premiere in the new home stadium as the clear favorites against the bottom of the table, but are well aware of the special nature of the duel. “A lot can always happen in the Upper Austrian derby, the table situation doesn’t play a major role there,” explained LASK coach Dietmar Kühbauer.
Finally, in the heated 1:1 in the first duel of the season – including the exclusions of LASK striker Marin Ljubicic (10th) and Ried defender David Ungar (65th) – the sentence of their own derby laws came true impressively. From the paper form, the matter is of course clear. LASK first eliminated Austria Klagenfurt in the cup and then also celebrated a 1-0 win in Altach at the spring start of the league. On Saturday you are again challenged abroad, only one of eight away games this season has been lost so far.
“We’ll need a similarly good performance as we did against Klagenfurt and Altach to score points,” said Kühbauer. “It will be important that, despite all the emotionality and intensity that such a derby entails, we keep a cool head and bring our skills, which we undoubtedly have, to the pitch.” However, regular Branko Jovicic will be absent, the Serbian central midfielder is suspended. This gives Maksym Talovyerov, the Ukrainian winter signing, a chance to make his starting XI debut.
Ried has to digest a bitter defeat after the cup success over the Wiener Sport-Club with the home 0:1 against Hartberg. Some players “couldn’t call up everything”, coach Christian Heinle complained afterwards. Missed chances at the beginning and a poor performance after the break destroyed hopes for important points. You’ve been without a win for five rounds, which should now be brought in thanks to typical derby emotions. In any case, the home record in a direct comparison is very positive with 19:6 wins.
“We have something to make up against LASK,” emphasized Heinle. “We can only counter LASK with emotion and intensity and will try to get our fans on board again from the start.” Even in the current, difficult situation, you don’t want to make yourself small in front of the favorites. “LASK is a top 3 team, but we want to beat them at home with our combined strength,” said Heinle.
Video: Marketing manager Tim Entenfellner and stadium boss Leo Kiesenhofer before the Upper Austria derby
Read more about the Upper Austria Derby in the following articles:
more from SV Ried
SV Ried is last: “That’s not a problem yet”
Ried’s hopes against Hartberg rest on a Styrian
Waiting for the run: How SV Ried plays with fire
Battle for number one: This goalie is in goal at Ried’s spring start
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