Looking to lift the Austrian Bundesliga title after 12 years without a major trophy, Austria Vienna face BW Linz at Generali Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Die Veilchen picked up a much-needed maximum at the base of Wolfsberger last time out, whilst Linz's poor form continued at home versus Red Bull Salzburg.
Match preview
© Imago
After a lowly eighth-placed finish in the Austrian Bundesliga during the 2023-24 campaign, Austria Vienna are back amongst the division's elite this time around, aiming to add to their 25 top-flight titles, with the latest of those successes coming all the way back in the 2012-23 season.
It appeared as if Die Veilchen had squandered an opportunity to fight for the Bundesliga crown following back-to-back defeats to RB Salzburg and Rapid Vienna to kick-start May's schedule, but Saturday's hosts have since secured a vital three points at the expense of title rivals Wolfsberger.
Following a goalless first period at a tense Lavanttal Arena, Austria Vienna raced into a two-strike lead courtesy of efforts from striker Maurice Malone and midfielder Manfred Fischer, meaning that a late goal for WAC's Ervin Omic was a mere consolation for a side chasing their first-ever league title.
Despite collecting just three points from their last three top-flight battles, Die Veilchen are still in with a shout of clinching the Bundesliga title on Saturday afternoon, with Stephan Helm's troops sitting in second spot, three points behind Sturm Graz in top position.
Losing on just three occasions across 15 Bundesliga home contests this term, Austria Vienna should be relatively confident of doing all that they can this weekend by earning maximum points, although the hosts were defeated during their most recent game at Generali Arena by arch rivals Rapid Vienna on May 11.
After earning promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time in their 27-year history in 2023, BW Linz are continuing to break records as they become accustomed to top-flight life, with Saturday afternoon's visitors guaranteed to enjoy their highest-ever league placement.
A ninth-placed finish during the 2023-24 term allowed Linz to steady the ship in the Bundesliga before pushing on, qualifying for the championship group this term, in which they have won just one of their last nine matches, bringing the campaign to a disappointing end.
BW Linz's losing streak in the top flight extended to three matches last weekend, when a last-minute strike from Edmund Baidoo won the contest for Red Bull Salzburg at Hofmann Personal Stadion, despite youngster Simon Seidl netting the opening goal for the hosts early on.
Earning just the single point from their most recent quartet of fixtures, Gerald Scheiblehner's men are sitting rock bottom of the championship group, seven points behind fifth-placed Rapid Vienna, who face a two-legged playoff against either LASK Linz or Hartberg to decide the recipient of Conference League football next term.
Following a decade of terrorising second-tier defences, Ronivaldo is consistently doing the same to those of Bundesliga standard in the colours of BW Linz, with the 36-year-old Brazilian netting 16 goals in all competitions during 2024-25, including 14 strikes in the top flight.
Team News
Austria Vienna remain without the services of striker Florian Wustinger, who suffered a season-ending knee injury at the end of the last calendar year.
Die Veilchen are also short on options in the left-back department due to the absence of Ziad El Sheiwi, with the defender recovering from a cruciate ligament injury.
Providing assists for Vienna last time out, Andreas Gruber and Dominik Fitz should retain their spots in attack alongside goalscorer Malone.
BW Linz goalkeeper Andreas Lukse has seen his last two seasons plagued by injury, with a shoulder issue limiting the veteran to just four appearances this campaign.
Thomas Goiginger managed 28 competitive matches for Linz this term before picking up a thigh problem during the defeat to title-chasing Wolfsberger in April.
Austria Vienna possible starting lineup:
Radlinger; Handl, Dragovic, Wiesinger; Ranftl, Fischer, Barry, Vinlof; Fitz, Gruber, Malone
BW Linz possible starting lineup:
Vitek; Pasic, Maranda, Strauss; Anderson, Diabate, Moormann, Pirkl; Seidl, Dobras, Ronivaldo
We say: Austria Vienna 2-0 BW Linz
Needing a win to have any chance of lifting the Bundesliga trophy, motivation could hardly be higher for trophy-starved Austria Vienna this weekend.
BW Linz are on the beach after a record-breaking campaign for the club and should not pose too many problems for the title-chasing Violets.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Carter White
