Bundesliga Match Day 23 Previews

Austria Vienna (2) vs CASHPOINT SCR Altach (4)

Last Bundesliga meeting: FAK 5-1 ALT 

These two sides battled it out at the top of last season’s Qualification Group, with Austria coming out on top in the end. The Violets are undefeated in four games against this opposition, yet Altach have won more Bundesliga matches against Austria than against any other club (13). Another good omen for the Vorarlbergers is that three of their four wins in 2021 have been on the road. Form-wise, the hosts have lost their last two, whilst the visitors won their last two games of the regular season. Suttner is a doubt for Austria Vienna, whilst Bumberger and Netzer are likely to miss out for Altach.

SV Guntamatic Ried (5) vs TSV Prolactal Hartberg (1)

Last Bundesliga meeting: HTB 1- 1 SVR 

Ried go into the game having lost their last four matches scoring only one goal in the process, and the Upper Austrians are without a win in ten. Hartberg, on the other hand, have won three of their last five and were only denied a place in the Championship Group by an injury time goal last time out. Despite their poor run, the home team will be buoyed by the fact that they took four points off Hartberg in the regular season, Ried’s 2-0 win over the East Styrian side was their only clean-sheet victory of the season so far. Hartberg have won four and drawn two of their last seven away games, but they’re expected to be without Schmerböck for this one. Reiner is also a doubt for Ried.

spusu SKN St. Pölten (3) vs FC Flyeralarm Admira (6) 

Last Bundesliga meeting: SKN 2-2 ADM 

St. Pölten haven’t lost in their last three meetings with Admira, but they’re also without a win in their last four Bundesliga games. Admira themselves are unbeaten in their last seven away games at St. Pölten (W2, D5), although they’ve won just one of their last 12 Bundesliga games, meaning both teams are struggling for form at present. Admira’s current assist-king Atanga (3) will be keen to make his mark against a former club. Luxbacher, Schütz and Maranda are doubtful for the hosts, with veteran striker Hoffer, as well as loanee Sax unlikely to start for Admira.

WSG Swarovski Tirol (6) vs LASK (3)

Last Bundesliga meeting: LASK 2-4 WSG

The Bundesliga head-to-head record for these two sides is precisely balanced, with each enjoying one win and two draws with six goals scored. WSG just snuck into the Championship Group after some late drama, and their longest Bundesliga run of four games unbeaten did them no harm (W1, D3). LASK have won their last five away games in the Bundesliga; they only managed more than that once before, when they set the league record of 12 away wins in a row in 2019/2020. This game would be Renner’s 100th Bundesliga appearance for LASK, but teammates Gruber, Karamoko, Raguz and Filipovic are all injured. Gölles is the only doubt for WSG as they hunt for a first home win in five games.

RZ Pellets WAC (5) vs SK Rapid Vienna (2)

Last Bundesliga meeting: SCR 1-0 WAC 

Wolfsberg have been involved in some high-scoring affairs of late; both of their last two games ended 5-3 (W1, L1). Under Roman Stary the Carinthians have scored 12 goals in three matches, the most of any Bundesliga coach after three games. Rapid, for their part, have found the net in each of their last seven games against Wolfsberg (12 goals). The club from the capital also won both of this season’s meetings with WAC, but they haven’t won three in a row against them since 2015. Wolfsberg have bounced from win to defeat over their last five games (W3 L2), whereas Rapid have only lost one of their last eleven Bundesliga matches. Rapid’s injury list includes Dibon, Velimirovic, Kitagawa and Schobesberger; for WAC only Sprangler is doubtful.

FC Red Bull Salzburg (1) vs SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz (4)

Last Bundesliga meeting: STU 2-1 RBS 

Sturm won both matches against Salzburg in the regular season, yet no team has won three in a season against Salzburg since way back in 2005/2006. Salzburg have now scored in 32 successive league home games, a new club record, and they’ve won nine of their ten Bundesliga matches in 2021. Sturm conceded 20 goals during their 22 regular season matches, making this their meanest defence since 2010/2011. They’ll be up against Daka though, who has scored in six consecutive games; he’d match the club record of seven with a goal in this one. Okafor is a doubt for the hosts; Ingolitsch and Trummer will miss out for Sturm, with Huspek unlikely to feature.

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