Austria Klagenfurt and Hartberg meet at the Worthersee Stadion in a crucial fixture for the home side on the final day of the Austrian Bundesliga season this Friday.
All three games in the Relegation Group will kickoff at 7:30pm local time, with it all still to play for at the bottom in the hopes of avoiding the drop to the 2. Liga.
Match preview
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It is all out of Klagenfurt’s hands going into the final day, but the battle to avoid relegation is so tight between three clubs that a win will more than likely be enough to survive.
The convoluted nature of how the Bundesliga implements point tallies after their league is split in two means that Klagenfurt are due to be awarded half a point if they end level on points with any club at the end of the season, as their tally was rounded down at the split.
So in essence, Klagenfurt start the final day on 16.5 points, with it looking set to be a showdown between them and Altach, who begin on 17 points.
Tirol are safe due to their superior head-to-head to records, but Klagenfurt have the edge over Grazer, so that means they are not yet safe from the drop, despite being three points clear.
Altach go to LASK, while Tirol host Grazer, but all will be irrelevant unless Klagenfurt can pick up a result at home to Hartberg in this one.
Since beating Hartberg 3-2 in March, Carsten Jancker‘s side have failed to win any of their following eight matches, collecting just three points in that time, and matters are not helped by the fact they have comfortably the worst defence in the division.
Klagenfurt have conceded 69 goals this season, 16 more than any other club, and 25 of those goals have come in the nine games since the split.
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Hartberg are preparing for the Conference League playoffs now after securing eighth place behind LASK in the Relegation Group, and they will be their opponents in the one-off semi-final where the winner will face Rapid Vienna to play for a spot in Europe.
Manfred Schmid‘s side may have lost to Klagenfurt, but they have been in excellent form during the split, avoiding being sucked into the relegation battle, and giving themselves an outside chance of European qualification.
Winning the Austrian Cup would have ensured that, but they were beaten here in Klagenfurt by Wolfsburger at the start of May, however, they have not let that get them down, as they are six unbeaten in the league either side of that disappointment.
Since losing the final, Hartberg have beaten Altach and Tirol either side of a draw away to LASK, so they are preparing very well for the playoffs, but it will be a tall order for Schmid’s men.
Team News
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Klagenfurt are set to be without Nicolas Binder after he went off inside 10 minutes during the 0-0 with Altach last weekend, and with Laurenz Dehl and Keanan Bennetts also out in attack, Florian Jaritz will likely be the man to come into the XI.
There are two more injury concerns for the hosts, as teenage midfielder Bego Kujrakovic and German Iba May are currently sidelined with long-term setbacks.
Hartberg will have Justin Omoregie back from suspension, after they were also able to welcome Donis Avdijaj back after a brief injury absence.
Avdijaj may not keep his place though, due to the impact off the bench of Muharem Huskovic last weekend, as the Austrian-born Bosnian netted the second goal that put them in front against Tirol.
Youba Diarra is a doubt for this clash, while the visitors are set to be without Max Fillafer, Manuel Pfeifer and Fabian Wilfinger, who have all been on the treatment table of late.
Austria Klagenfurt possible starting lineup:
Spari; Gezos, Mahrer, Hinteregger; Straudi, Koch, Salifou, Robatsch; Wernitznig, Jaritz, Bobzien
Hartberg possible starting lineup:
Sallinger; Kovacevic, Komposch, Markus, Omogerie, Demir; Kainz, Prokop; Huskovic, Mijic, Avdijaj
We say: Austria Klagenfurt 2-2 Hartberg
Klagenfurt’s defence has been far too leaky of late, and that could be costly, but they have been given a favourable fixture against a Hartberg side with nothing to play for.
The hosts will be hoping for favours from elsewhere though, especially in Linz, where in-form LASK should beat Altach, and that could be decisive in Klagenfurt’s hopes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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