Classic Showdown Makes Bundesliga Return

Due to the weather-related postponement of the cup match against Union Mauer, originally scheduled for last Tuesday, head coach Markus Schopp and his team had a full week of training to prepare for the match against the newly promoted side. In their fourth home game of the season, LASK is determined to give everything to secure their first points in front of their home crowd.

GAK, following their return to the Bundesliga after 17 years, has drawn four times in the first six rounds, most recently twice in a row against SCR Altach and TSV Hartberg. This marks the first meeting in the top division since May 5, 2001, when the Graz side won 1-0. The two teams last faced each other in October 2012 in the Regionalliga Mitte, with LASK claiming a 6-2 victory away from home.

Since 1951, the two traditional clubs have faced each other 104 times in the top division, with a balanced record: LASK has won 38 matches, while GAK has claimed 38 victories, and 28 games have ended in a draw. LASK's most recent victory dates back to October 16, 1999, with a 1-0 goal from Zeljko Milinovic in Graz-Liebenau. At home, the Upper Austrians have won 28 out of 52 matches, with 15 ending in draws. Their last home win came in April 1998, when Linz secured a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Geir Frigard.

LASK, unbeaten in seven consecutive home games against newly promoted sides in the Bundesliga, will be without several key players. Tobias Lawal, Andres Andrade, Ivan Ljubic, Florian Flecker, and Lenny Pintor are injured, while Sascha Horvath remains suspended for the second and final time. However, all other players are currently in team training.

The match will also honor the many relief workers involved in the recent flood efforts. As a token of appreciation, LASK has invited 200 helpers to the game against GAK at the Raiffeisen Arena.

ADMIRAL Bundesliga, Matchday 7
Saturday, 21.09.2024, 5:00 p.m.
LASK vs. GAK
Raiffeisen Arena, Referee: Weinberger

Unavailable: Lawal, Horvath, Ljubic, Flecker, Pintor, Andrade

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