Like a year ago, LASK will be guest at the end of the year in the Bundesliga on Sunday at Wiener Austria (5 p.m.) – and everything is different than twelve months ago.
On December 20, 2020, Rene Renner took the penalty kick in the 97th minute when the score was 1: 1. With the winning goal, he would have put the winter crown on LASK – because of the Corona break after only twelve games. Goalkeeper Patrick Pentz stopped. LASK started the spring as third and held the position until the end of the basic round. There were already signs of the crash, since the championship group, LASK has been in free fall, which has not been stopped in the new season either.
That is why tomorrow’s LASK guest appearance at Austria will be a final: Only a win gives realistic hope in the chase for a place in the championship group. The athletes started with a 3-0 win against HJK Helsinki in the Europa Conference League. “Such a result is good. We want to take the momentum with us for Sunday,” said winger Florian Flecker.
Austria not only has the advantage of being able to watch LASK struggling on the deep grass in Klagenfurt: Because the lockdown in Vienna ends midnight today, a maximum of 4,000 fans can cheer on their violets on Sunday.
Argument for Wieland
“We still have 90 minutes plus stoppage time. We’ll do everything we can to achieve a good performance,” said coach Andreas Wieland, “and the right result.” This would also provide him with arguments for continued employment beyond the winter. In the coming week this will be decided in the seasonal analysis. The success of the European Cup speaks for him – and that LASK has been reminded of successful times at times since he took up his position as coach. However, there was a lack of fitness for the pressing style to keep up the style of play.
A decision also has to be made at Austria: The former LASK Vice President Jürgen Werner is part of the investor group that is supposed to solve the Viennese’s financial problems. The contracts should be signed by Christmas.
Source: Nachrichten
