LASK secures victory following shocking performance by Schopp
Winning Streak for LASK Despite Coaching Change
LASK, reeling from the unexpected departure of coach Markus Schopp, emerged victorious yet again in the Bundesliga under interim coach Maximilian Ritscher. The Linz team handed Austria Klagenfurt a 4:1 loss, extending their winning streak to five games. Meanwhile, Klagenfurt finds itself in the thick of the relegation battle.
Dramatic Relegation Battle Rages On for Altach
While LASK looks optimistic for the European Cup playoffs, boasting a ten-point lead over Hartberg, the Violets from Klagenfurt are just two points away from the relegation-threatened Altach and one point ahead of GAK, with five games left in the season. On Saturday (5:00 PM), Klagenfurt, who have not won the last 15 matches against LASK, face a return match in Upper Austria.
LASK took an early lead against Klagenfurt, scoring twice in the first half: Sascha Horvath netted his first goal of the season in the 12th minute, and Maximilian Entrup followed suit after a significant defensive error by Klagenfurters. David Toshevski managed to score for the hosts before the break, but it was their first conceded goal in the qualifying group. After the restart, Entrup added another goal to effectively seal the game, and substitute Florian Flecker scored from a narrow angle to make it 4:1.
LASK Gets Off to a Flyer
LASK's management, with CEO Siegmund Gruber absent in Klagenfurt, expressed confidence in the separation from Schopp the day before, and it seemed to pay off in the early stages. Austria goalkeeper Simon Spari had to intervene multiple times to thwart attempts from Robert Zulj (6) and Branko Jovicic (7). Soon after, LASK took a commanding 2-0 lead, with Horvath (12) and Entrup (15) finding the back of the net.
Klagenfurt responded, making the game competitive for a while. Jannik Robatsch set up Tobias Koch at the penalty spot, who assisted Toshevski (31) for a powerful finish into the left corner. LASK wobbled, but Tobias Lawal stood firm in goal to deny Toshevski another goal (37). In the second half, Ritscher's team restored their two-goal lead with an impressive counterattack, with Krystof Danek setting up Entrup (54) for a tap-in.
LASK Switches to Control Mode
After regaining their two-goal advantage, LASK shifted into control mode, dominating possession for extended periods. Klagenfurt posed little threat to the LASK goal, with a Toshevski long-range shot (74) narrowly missing the mark. Three minutes after coming on, Flecker (84) added the final goal.
Standings and Remaining Schedule
As of the data available, the current standings are as follows:
- LASK Linz: Ranked 7th with 66 points and a goal difference of -8 from 22 matches.
- Austria Klagenfurt: Ranked 9th with 21 points and a goal difference of -22 from 22 matches.
- SCR Altach: Typically found near the bottom with 16 points and a goal difference of -15 from 22 matches.
- TSV Hartberg: Ranked 8th with 26 points and a goal difference of -7 from 22 matches.
The remaining schedule is yet to be fully detailed, but the regular season is drawing to a close, and we can expect playoffs for the top teams following it. For detailed schedules, including match dates and times, it's best to consult the official Austrian Bundesliga website or a sports scheduling platform.
The winning streak of LASK continues, extending their lead in the European Cup playoffs, as they consolidate their seventh position in the Austrian Bundesliga with 66 points, while Klagenfurt, who have not won in their past 15 matches against LASK, are in a dramatic relegation battle, struggling to maintain their ninth position with just 21 points.
Meanwhile, SCR Altach, the team that typically finds itself near the bottom, battles for survival with 16 points, just two points above Klagenfurt and GAK, also in the relegation race, with five games remaining in the season. LASK, having shown their prowess in football in the European leagues, will face Klagenfurt again in their return match in Upper Austria on Saturday.
