Bundesliga Match Day 31 Previews

FK Austria Vienna (1) vs. spusu SKN St. Pölten (6)

Last Bundesliga meeting: SKN 1-2 FAK

While Austria Vienna will be searching for the victory that wraps up their place in the internal Europa League play-off, survival is at stake for St. Pölten in this top versus bottom clash. They absolutely must win at the Generali Arena, and hope that Admira fail to beat Hartberg at the same time - a scenario that would take the relegation battle down to the final day. Their recent record certainly bodes well: the Lower Austrians are unbeaten in four away games against the Violets (W1 D3). More ominously, though, the capital club have not lost a single home game since the Qualification Group started (W2 D2) - and St. Pölten have not won home or away in that time (D3 L5). Patrick Wimmer could make his 50th Bundesliga appearance for Austria, who will be without the suspended Erik Palmer-Brown. 

SCR CASHPOINT Altach (4) vs. SV Guntamatic Ried (3)

Last Bundesliga meeting: SVR 0-0 ALT

Altach are on a three-match unbeaten run against Ried in the Bundesliga (W2 D1) this season - the first time they have beaten Ried twice in a single campaign. But coach Heraf’s charges are currently on an eight-game unbeaten streak in the top flight (W3 D5) - their longest run without a loss since the autumn of 2011 (nine games) - and are the only club in the league that has not tasted defeat since the halving of the points. Spectacular strikes could be on the cards in this one, as Altach and Ried have scored more times from outside the box this season than any other club in the 2021 Qualification Group (eight goals each). 

TSV Prolactal Hartberg (2) vs. FC Flyeralarm Admira (5)

Last Bundesliga meeting: ADM 0-1 HTB

Hartberg will be keen to make amends for their defeat at the hands of Austria in midweek and confirm their place in the European play-off. Admira, meanwhile, will ensure their own survival with a win. A draw would not yet be enough to guarantee their Bundesliga berth for next season, unless St. Pölten fail to pick up three points in the capital. The Styrians have won their last six Bundesliga matches against the Lower Austrians - a feat they have not managed against any other club in the top tier. Schopp’s men have scored in eight successive games against Admira, who themselves have kept four consecutive away clean sheets for the first time in the Bundesliga. If Horvath plays, it will be his 100th appearance in the Bundesliga - 13 of his previous 99 games have been against Admira.

LASK (4) vs. Red Bull Salzburg (1)

Last Bundesliga meeting: RBS 2-0 LASK

There is certainly more at stake in this one for LASK than Salzburg, who were crowned Austrian champions for the eighth season in a row in midweek. Fourth-placed LASK are level on points with Sturm in third, but Ilzer’s side remain ahead due to their so-called half-point advantage (their points total was an odd number when the league split in half and so was rounded down). However, the Black & Whites have lost all three of their previous league meetings with Salzburg this term and - if you include their duels from last season too - are on a five-game losing streak against the Red Bulls in the Bundesliga. Marsch’s men have 11 away wins this season and could join a select list of just three clubs with more than 11 away victories in a Bundesliga season if they manage to take all three points in Pasching.

SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz (3) vs. SK Rapid Vienna (2)

Last Bundesliga meeting: SCR 0-0 STU

Sturm Graz’s far-inferior goal difference means they likely need to beat Rapid Vienna, who are three points ahead, if they are to have any chance of leapfrogging them into second place come the final day. But Sturm are winless in their last eight Bundesliga meetings with Rapid (D3 L5) and have not beaten the Green & Whites in their last five clashes in Graz (D2 L3). On a positive note, however, Ilzer’s side have won 10 of their first 15 home games this season - their best home record at this stage of a campaign since 1999/00 (11/15). Jantscher will likely be the danger man for Sturm; the forward has been directly involved in three goals in his last four games against Rapid (one goal, two assists). Conversely, Kara has had a direct goal involvement in three of his last four matches against Sturm (two goals, one assist). Hofmann and Barac are both suspended for Rapid.

WSG Swarovski Tirol (6) vs. RZ Pellets Wolfsberger AC (5)

Last Bundesliga meeting: WAC 2-0 WSG

With four points between them and two games remaining, WSG Tirol must beat Wolfsberg to keep their dreams of crowning a glorious season with a place in the internal European play-off alive. They have won both of their previous home games against WAC this season. Generally, though, the Carinthians have been excellent on the road this term and have more Bundesliga away wins in 2020/21 than they have ever managed in a campaign before (10). Stary’s men boast a tremendous aerial threat, having scored the most headed goals of any team in the division (12). Yet WSG have conceded just four headed goals - only Altach have let in fewer (two). Baden Frederiksen has eight goals in the Championship Round - the most of any player in the division - and now holds the all-time record for most goals for WSG in the Bundesliga (18).