Upper Austria versus Carinthia is the long-distance duel at the weekend for the free places in the champion play-off of the Bundesliga. SV Guntamatic Ried would like to defend their own three-point lead over seventh-placed Austria Wien at Wolfsberger AC today. LASK has to do more on Sunday (Raiffeisen Arena, 17) to reduce the four-point deficit to sixth place.
The first task of LASK trainer Andreas Wieland in today’s final training session will be to put the “13 failures of Austria Klagenfurt” announced yesterday in the right light. Because even if the Carinthians are of course short of staff, there will probably only be two players missing in the starting XI with Patrick Greil and Upper Austrian Nicolas Wimmer, who are always there from the start. The substitute bench is also adequately occupied. Above all, as ninth in the table, LASK has no reason to underestimate any opponent. After the poor performance in the ÖFB Cup in Ried, the people of Klagenfurt were very self-critical and want to do better. LASK has a lot more to counter that than in the fall. “The fitness is completely different than in autumn,” emphasized coach Wieland as a plus point. There is also no doubt that the people of Linz can rely on more experience. Philipp Wiesinger is also there, as is Branko Jovicic, who received his work permit in good time yesterday. “Both are also an issue for the starting XI,” confirms Wieland. Wiesinger’s character is known anyway, Jovicic already showed in the first week of training that he didn’t come to take on an extra role. When he received an offer from the club to attend a German course, his reply was: “Thanks, I organized that myself.” It can be assumed that the 28-year-old will soon play a central role, and not just in midfield.
Ibertsberger’s reunion
At SV Ried, coach Robert Ibertsberger celebrates his league debut for the Innviertler at the WAC where his coaching career really began. In 2018 he replaced Heimo Pfeifenberger in the league finish, leading the Carinthians, who were at risk of relegation, to stay up in the league with four wins and a draw in nine games. However, the cooperation was not extended – because the Carinthians had already signed the current Sturm Graz coach Christian Ilzer for the next season. “The winning streak came too late back then. But I know how business works, and I’m not angry with anyone,” says Ibertsberger with a smile. Nevertheless, he took one important lesson with him: “The few weeks as head coach at WAC encouraged me to come back to the Bundesliga as a coach.”
On his return today, however, there will be no reminiscing – and the current away record should also be forgotten under Ibertsberger. “We also want to collect a lot of points away from home to get closer to our goal.” And that means master group.
Source: Nachrichten
