The fourth-placed team hosts the seventh-placed team – before the start of the season, no one would have expected that this duel in the 14th round of the Bundesliga would take place tomorrow, Saturday, between Liga-Krösus Red Bull Salzburg and LASK (5 p.m.). The Bulls currently have two games less in their account, but even if they lose points they would still be five points short of league leaders Sturm Graz.
The shine of the Austrian long-term dominator has already faded somewhat in the previous season when double winner Sturm Graz snatched both titles from the team from the city of Mozart. And this season, coach Pepijn Lijnders’ team is still chasing its best form. Salzburg has been winless in three league games, with the negative highlight before the international break being the 2-0 defeat against LASK city rivals Blau-Weiß Linz.
The unrest around the club could play into LASK’s hands – and perhaps coach Markus Schopp too? The 50-year-old has celebrated a win against every Bundesliga team – except against the Bulls. In 13 matches with Salzburg in his coaching career so far, Schopp has only scored one point.
Episode 51: Quo vadis, Scheiblehner?
“It certainly won’t be any easier for Blau-Weiß Linz to keep the coach,” says OÖN sports editor Raphael Watzinger about a possible contract extension with Gerald Scheiblehner. In this episode you will find everything about the big game Red Bull Salzburg against LASK, Blau-Weiß Linz against newly promoted GAK and Ried against SW Bregenz.
“To Salzburg with conviction”
Is that why the tumbling giant from Salzburg might come tomorrow at exactly the right time? “Salzburg’s structure is very clear and they try to play their game against every opponent. We have to be aware that a very strong opponent is waiting here,” says Schopp, who also expects that today’s opponents want to make up for a lot : “We can expect a team that is looking to make up points.”
Nevertheless, he believes his team can surprise: “It’s important for us to go to Salzburg with the clear conviction that we can get three points there. We will need this energy.”
In the recent past, LASK has already proven that you can win against the Bulls: Salzburg has been unbeaten in 15 home games in the upper house (eleven wins, four draws), but their last home defeat was against the Athletes: on October 21, 2023 Robert Zulj scored the golden goal in a 1-0 away win.
In April of this year, Salzburg was also defeated with a 3-1 home win, and in the first leg of the current season, Linz were narrowly defeated 1-0 despite a good performance in the Raiffeisen Arena. Tomorrow the black and whites – and especially their coach Markus Schopp – will make a new attempt.
