LASK storms into the European Cup – but in which competition?

It was a perfect round for LASK: With the 3:1 against Rapid, the competitor was distanced for third place. The way to the European Cup games in the Raiffeisen Arena is paved. “We have goals that we are pursuing,” said Coach Dietmar Kuhbauer. He left it open where the path should lead. It’s up to the athletes’ legs which competition it will be.

Champions League: The gap to the second storm is three points. Arithmetic games refused Kühbauer. “We look from game to game,” he says, almost apologizing for the phrase. Storm Trainer Christian Ilzer feels the athletes in the back. “The distance to first place is greater than the distance to third place,” he said after the 0: 2 against Salzburg in the Sky interview. The last-round clash in Graz could be a showdown for a place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. If both teams ended up with the same number of points, LASK would be ranked ahead: with two wins and a draw so far, the direct duel has already been decided in favor of Linz.

Sturm can play against Austria tomorrow at home, while LASK won’t be on the ball until Sunday against Klagenfurt (5 p.m.). The reason for bringing it forward is the Cup final, in which Sturm in Klagenfurt will play for the title after the final whistle of the LASK game against Rapid (8.30 p.m.).

Europe League: The prerequisite for the LASK is third place – and the right cup winner. Because the starting place in the Europa League play-off is reserved for him. If the cup winner in the Champions League is on the ball, the Bundesliga third party inherits a fixed entry into a European group phase – because the play-off loser continues to play in the Europa Conference League. This also makes it clear who LASK is keeping their fingers crossed for in the cup final on Sunday: A triumph by Sturm Graz would increase the chances of a group phase.

Europe Conference League: If Rapid celebrates their first cup triumph since 1995 on Sunday, third place in the Bundesliga would only be enough for the third qualifying round for the Europa Conference League. Two knockout hurdles would have to be cleared to qualify for the group stage. The fourth then has to go into the Bundesliga’s internal Europa Cup play-off for a place in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.