FC Flyeralarm Admira (5) vs spusu SKN St. Pölten (6)
Last Bundesliga meeting: SKN 0-1 ADM
This weekend’s crunch game sees the bottom two in the Bundesliga go head to head in Lower Austria. Admira edged the last meeting, and four of the last five have in fact been decided by a 1-0 scoreline (two wins each). SKN have a record to uphold this time; they’ve scored in every one of their last five away games against Admira, and another goal this time could be precious in the battle against the drop. St. Pölten’s Schmidt has grabbed a brace against Admira twice already this season, a fifth goal for him against the same opposition would make him the top scorer for the Wolves against a single club. Both teams are in troubling form coming into the game; the hosts haven’t scored in their last four home games, whereas the guests haven’t won in ten games. Atanga looks unlikely to feature for Admira, St. Pölten trainer Schmidt is banned from the touchline for this vital clash, too.
SCR CASHPOINT Altach (4) vs. FK Austria Vienna (2)
Last Bundesliga meeting: FAK 2-0 ALT
Austria will be looking to keep up the pressure at the top of the group by defeating Altach on the road on Saturday. The Violets will see themselves as favourites as they are unbeaten in five games against the Vorarlberg side with four wins and a draw in the most recent meetings, and three clean sheets to go with it. On a more hopeful note for the home team; they have won 13 times in the Bundesliga against Austria, more often than they’ve beaten any other team. Altach coach Canadi also has good memories of facing Austria Vienna; he finished off his first spell at the club with a 5-1 win over FAK back in November 2016. That game remains Altach’s biggest win over Austria to this day. Palmer-Brown and Suttner look set to miss out for the visitors, Schreiner will be unavailable for the hosts.
TSV Prolactal Hartberg (1) vs. SV Guntamatic Ried (3)
Last Bundesliga meeting: SVR 3-2 HTB
Hartberg are aiming to hold on to top spot as they face Ried this weekend, but the Upper Austrians could prove tough opponents, having already notched six goals against Hartberg this season. Ried are also unbeaten in three matches against Hartberg, yet the home team themselves are unbeaten in five games, and haven’t tasted defeat in their last seven matches at the Profertil Arena, a sign of the form that has taken the Stryrians to the top of the group table. The first goal could prove to be a false dawn in this match as Hartberg have recovered points from a 1-0 deficit ten times this season (three wins, seven draws), more than any other team. Ried have won four times after going one down, which is only bettered by Salzburg’s five comeback victories.
LASK (4) vs. WSG Swarovski Tirol (6)
Last Bundesliga meeting: WSG 2-0 LASK
WSG shocked LASK last time out with a 2-0 win, but having beaten them twice in a row now, there will be no element of surprise this time. WSG’s Frederiksen has scored three of the seven goals that his team have managed against the Linz side this term, which is individually more than the solitary strike that his side scored against LASK last season. Michorl could be the danger man for LASK as they look to recapture third place in the Bundesliga; he’s been involved in three of his team’s six goals against WSG this season, with two goals and one assist.
SK Sturm Graz (3) vs. Red Bull Salzburg (1)
Last Bundesliga meeting: RBS 3-1 STU
Sturm have a solid home record this season with ten wins from 14 games, only Salzburg’s eleven can better that figure. The Grazers have already celebrated victory over Salzburg twice during this campaign, but no side has managed three wins against them in a season since 2005/06. Fresh from their cup win, Red Bull Salzburg top the table having won 21 of their 28 league matches, scoring 80 goals in the process. Top-scorer Daka has bagged four goals against Sturm alone; can he beat the personal record of six against the Graz side, set by Schachner (1979) and Krankl (1987)? Ramalho is set to make his 150th Bundesliga appearance, he’s already played 18 times against Sturm, making them his most frequently faced opposition. Salzburg’s Bernede will miss the game through suspension.
SK Rapid Vienna (2) vs. RZ Pellets Wolfsberger AC (5)
Last Bundesliga meeting: WAC 1-8 SCR
Rapid will have fond memories of their demolition job last time the sides met, and the Green and Whites have won three on the bounce against WAC, something they only previously managed in 2015. They haven’t lost against Wolfsberg at home in seven games, so they’ll have even more reason to be confident on Sunday. WAC however, have won nine away games during this campaign; that’s the most they’ve ever managed in a Bundesliga season, and is second only to Salzburg’s ten away wins this term. Headers could be WAC’s main weapon in this game; the Carinthians have scored a league-high 12 headed goals this season, and three of their four goals against Rapid have been headed in as well. Rapid captain Ljubicic looks set to make his 100th Bundesliga appearance in this match.