LASK Linz will host Hartberg on Monday at Raiffeisen Arena in their Austrian Bundesliga Conference League qualifiers semi-final clash.
The hosts finished first in their relegation group after finishing seventh in the regular season, while Hartberg finished eighth in the regular season and second in their relegation group, and the two sides will play for the right to face with Rapid Vienna for a place in the second round of the Conference League qualifiers.
Match preview
© Imago
LASK were held to a goalless stalemate by Altach on Friday in the final relegation group game, and they should be credited with preventing their opponents from registering a single shot on target.
However, manager Maximilian Ritscher's side have failed to score for three consecutive games, though they conceded just once in that time.
The Black-Whites have faced Hartberg on four occasions this season, achieving two victories in those matches, though they did draw 0-0 in their last clash on May 10.
While LASK have drawn two and lost one of their last three, they did win each of their previous six.
The hosts are unbeaten in their past five at home – drawing their two most recent outings at Raiffeisen Arena – and they kept five clean sheets in that time.
© Imago
As for Hartberg, their second-minute goal against SK Austria Klagenfurt on Friday was enough to secure all three points in their final relegation group game, though that strike was their only attempt on target in the first half.
The club have kept three clean sheets in their past four, finding the back of the net on six occasions.
Head coach Manfred Schmid's team only won two of their 10 relegation group matches, but it should be noted that his side scored 16 goals and conceded nine, whereas they had scored 24 and conceded 31 in the 22 fixtures they played in the regular season.
Hartberg are undefeated in four fixtures, emerging victorious on three occasions, but they did lose two and draw two of their previous five.
The visitors boast a strong record on the road having triumphed in four of their seven most recent away trips, losing just one of those games.
Team News
© Imago
LASK will be without wingers Lenny Pintor and Moses Usor, and their injuries could lead to the selection of Robert Zulj and Krystof Danek either side of centre-forward Maximilian Entrup.
Ismaila Cheick Coulibaly and Sascha Horvath may start given midfielder Valon Berisha will not be part of the XI.
Shot-stopper Tobias Okiki Lawal is likely to be protected by centre-backs Branko Jovicic, Marco Sulzner and Hrvoje Smolcic considering goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth is unavailable.
Meanwhile, Hartberg boss Schmid must find ways of coping with the absence of central defender Fabian Wilfinger, though Paul Komposch, Mateo Karamatic and Raphael Hofer are fit.
With midfielder Justin Omoregie and attacker Maximilian Fillafer ruled out, perhaps Benjamin Markus and Youba Diarra will feature behind forwards Muharem Huskovic, Dominik Prokop and Elias Havel.
LASK Linz possible starting lineup:
Lawal; Jovicic, Sulzner, Smolcic; Flecker, Coulibaly, Horvath, Bello; Zulj, Danek; Entrup
Hartberg possible starting lineup:
Maric; Komposch, Karamatic, Hofer; Kovacevic, Markus, Diarra, Pfeifer; Huskovic, Prokop; Havel
We say: LASK Linz 2-1 Hartberg
Hartberg will almost certainly find Monday's clash to be a difficult affair given they have struggled to achieve wins in their relegation group.
While LASK are in relatively poor form, it would not be surprising if they won considering they boast a strong record against their opponents.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
