Bundesliga in the TICKER

LIVE from 19:30: Austria host Blau-Weiß Linz

(Bild: GEPA)

24th round in Austria's Bundesliga: FK Austria Wien will host FC Blau-Weiß Linz in the qualifying group. We report live (see below). The score is currently 0:0!

Here is the LIVETICKER:

There were no winners at the start of the qualifying group of the Bundesliga two weeks ago - Vienna's Austria would like to change that today in round 2 against Blau-Weiß Linz. The "Veilchen" have been unbeaten at home for ten league games, so three points against the promoted team are the order of the day. "We want to keep the streak going," explained coach Michael Wimmer. The Steel Cities side, on the other hand, want to make their mark in the relegation battle.

Michael Wimmer

(Bild: GEPA)

"We have to get to the point where we control a game for longer!"
The Violets' personnel situation did not really ease during the international break. Although Marvin Martins is likely to return, the defender has already played for Luxembourg in the European Championship play-off against Georgia and in the test match against Kazakhstan. However, fellow defender Tin Plavotic is out with an adductor injury. Luca Pazourek will be given time off by Wimmer after three full U19 international appearances, "to take a breather", as Wimmer said on Thursday. Romeo Vucic is also questionable. "He vomited overnight, so we'll have to wait and see." As for Marvin Potzmann (adductor) and Fisnik Asllani (torn tendon), who have been injured for some time, the coach hopes "that they will return to team training or partial training fairly quickly."

Wimmer used the international break for video analysis and work on group tactics. "A phase like this is always good for us because it allows us to reflect on what has happened in recent weeks, what we need to work on and what has worked better," explained the 43-year-old. "We have to get to the point where we control a game for longer." We must no longer let our dominance slip away so easily. Two weeks ago, Austria conceded a late 1:1 equalizer in Altach.

Gerald Scheiblehner

(Bild: GEPA)

"It's a bit easier for us against stronger teams!"
Austria have won the two duels with Blau-Weiß so far this season with 4:0 (h) and 2:1 (a), with Andreas Gruber scoring four goals. Nevertheless, Wimmer warned: "They were two close games, even if the 4:0 looks clearer than it was." However, unlike Austria, who want to make the European Cup play-offs, Linz are completely geared towards fighting relegation, so the roles are clear. "It's different in the qualifying group, you always go into the game as the favorite," said Wimmer. "For many teams, it's mainly about not losing. That also changes their style of play. They play much deeper. You need more solutions in the final third and good rest defense," explained the German.

Linz defended their four-point lead over the bottom team with a 0-0 home draw against Lustenau. However, the Upper Austrians have been winless for nine rounds (4 draws, 5 defeats). The promoted team took heart from a 2:0 test match win against Sturm Graz last week. Coach Gerald Scheiblehner, who has all players at his disposal apart from striker Joao Luiz, is optimistic. The best results have been achieved against the stronger teams. "We find it a little easier against stronger teams and that's why we're going to Vienna with absolute belief," said Scheiblehner.