Full Focus on the Classic Clash

“The goal for now is to reach the play-offs,” said captain Philipp Ziereis ahead of LASK’s first home match in the final stage. The unfortunate penalty shootout defeat to Wolfsberger AC in the ÖFB Cup was quickly put aside, with the team now focused on building upon their largely strong performances during the spring season. LASK has won four of their last five league matches and remained unbeaten in six of their last seven Bundesliga games. “The path we’ve taken since the winter break is heading in the right direction. We hope we can keep progressing step by step,” Ziereis emphasized.

LASK made a successful start to the final stage last weekend with a 2–0 away win against SCR Altach. The result helped solidify their lead in the qualification group and extend the gap over closest rivals Austria Klagenfurt and TSV Hartberg to five points. GAK, on the other hand, opened the final stage with a goalless draw against WSG Tirol. The team from Graz is under new leadership, with Ferdinand Feldhofer taking over as head coach last week. He shares a long-standing connection with his counterpart Markus Schopp, as the two once played together at SK Sturm Graz. As head coaches, they’ve faced off eight times so far, with the head-to-head record evenly balanced at two wins, four draws, and two losses each.

LASK and GAK meet for the third time this season. The first encounter in September saw the Black-and-Whites claim a 4–2 victory at the Raiffeisen Arena in front of 13,000 spectators. The return fixture ended in a goalless draw. Should LASK manage to pick up points again, it would mark the first time since the 1997/98 season that they remain unbeaten in three consecutive Bundesliga matches against the team from Graz. Since their return to Austria’s top flight in 2017, LASK has never lost a home match against a newly promoted side. Another notable statistic: the Athletiker have scored exactly two goals in each of their last five Bundesliga matches—a streak they last managed during the 2019/20 season.

The clash between LASK and GAK is steeped in tradition, with 126 meetings to date, 106 of which have taken place in the top division. Their first Bundesliga matchup dates back to August 26, 1951, in the old Staatsliga, when the Upper Austrians secured a 2–1 win thanks to goals from Rudolf Fuchs and Ferdinand Zechmeister in front of 9,000 fans. For this 127th encounter, LASK will be without George Bello due to suspension, while GAK must make do without Thomas Schiestl and Daniel Maderner, who are also serving suspensions.

ADMIRAL Bundesliga, Round 24
Sat, April 5, 2025, 5.00 p.m.
LASK – GAK 1902
Raiffeisen Arena, Referee Daniel Pfister

Missing: Usor, Jungwirth
Suspended: Bello