Two games against Hartberg

With their 3-1 victory over league leaders RB Salzburg last week, the Athletiker not only secured their second win of the spring but also gained a lot of confidence. Marin Ljubicic, in particular, crowned his performance with the first hat-trick by a Bundesliga player against the defending champions in 13 years. However, it was the collective effort of the Linz team that stood out, earning them their first home victory against the Mozart city team since 2018.

Now, within a week, the Linz team faces three crucial games. Following their second home game of the season against TSV Hartberg, they have a rematch in just three days in Styria, before hosting SK Rapid in the Raiffeisen Arena the following Sunday. However, their immediate focus is on the Obersteirern, as a win could put them nine points ahead.

The recent record against Markus Schopp's team needs to be improved. The last victory over TSV was achieved by the Athletiker with a 5-1 away win in June 2020. Three months earlier, they had defeated Hartberg with the same scoreline at home. The overall record favors the Schwarz-Weißen with ten wins, twelve draws, and only five losses.

In the last three encounters, the two teams shared the points, and this season, no goals have been scored in their two matchups. The LASK's strength lies in their home performance at the Raiffeisen Arena, where they have not only won their last two games but also remained undefeated in 13 matches this season, winning eleven of them.