LASK opens competitive season with cup derby

LASK played six friendly matches during the summer preparation, remaining unbeaten with three victories against Galatasaray Istanbul (3:2), SKN St. Pölten (2:0), and ASKÖ Oedt (7:1), and three draws against Dynamo Budweis (2:2), CFR Cluj (1:1), and Puskas Akademia (0:0). Now, the team aims for a successful start to the competitive season and to advance to the second round of the cup. LASK has consistently cleared the first round for the past 20 years, beginning with the 2003/04 season. In the last six attempts, they reached at least the quarterfinals, making it to the semifinals three times and the final once.

However, they must first overcome the challenge posed by Union Gurten. Since their promotion in 2014, the Innviertel team has consistently competed in the Regionalliga Mitte, finishing in the top four for the past five seasons. Last year, coach Peter Madritsch's team achieved their best-ever finish as runners-up. In the ÖFB Cup, Gurten has faced several Bundesliga teams, such as in the previous season when they narrowly lost 2-5 to SK Rapid after extra time. They have also played against RB Salzburg, TSV Hartberg, SCR Altach, and Wolfsberger AC in the past.

Last season, LASK advanced past the opening round with a 6-0 victory at SC Röthis. In the second round, they secured another away win with a 3-0 against SC Imst, followed by a penalty shootout victory in Kapfenberg in the Round of 16. Their cup run ended in the quarterfinals with a narrow 2-3 loss to Salzburg.

In total, the Black and Whites have played 28 Upper Austrian derbies in the domestic cup competition against 18 different clubs from the region. LASK emerged victorious in 20 of these matches. At the Klaus-Roitinger Stadium, where Friday's match against Gurten will take place, LASK won their only previous match in 2002 against SV Ried with a 2-1 victory, thanks to a brace from Christian Stumpf.

Kickoff at the Klaus-Roitinger Stadium in Ried is at 6:00 PM, with entry allowed from 4:00 PM. Tickets for the away section are available at the LASK fan shop at Helmut-Köglberger-Platz until Friday at 12:00 PM. There will also be a ticket booth on-site from 4:00 PM. Access in LASK fan clothing is permitted only in the away section, with entrance via the Stöcklgras gate.

Parking at the stadium is very limited, but parking is available within a five to ten-minute walk (Hannesgrub North, South, Riedauer Street, Voglweg, Göthestraße).

UNIQA ÖFB Cup, 1st Round
Fri, 26.07.2024, 6:00 PM
Union Raiffeisen Gurten - LASK
Ried, Klaus-Roitinger-Stadion, Referee Stefan Ebner

Unavailable: Entrup, Boateng, Flecker, Ljubic, Mustapha, Andrade, Tavares, Talovierov