Hartberg vs LASK - Preview and Prediction

Overview

In an intriguing Austrian Bundesliga encounter, TSV Hartberg is set to host LASK at the PROfertil ARENA in Hartberg. With both teams looking to secure a win to bolster their positions in the league table, this match promises to be a captivating affair. Hartberg, currently sitting at 4th place with 29 points, will look to leverage their home advantage against LASK, who are just ahead in 3rd place with 33 points. As the teams prepare for the clash on Sunday, fans eagerly anticipate a competitive match-up.

Hartberg

TSV Hartberg has had a mixed bag of results in their recent outings, as reflected in their last five games which show a pattern of "LWDLW". Despite this inconsistency, they have managed to maintain a respectable 4th position in the league standings. With 8 wins, 5 draws, and 5 losses out of 18 games played this season, Hartberg has demonstrated resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks.

Their last fixture ended in a defeat against Austria Vienna with a scoreline of 3-1 at the Generali Arena. Although they managed to keep the score level at halftime, they couldn't sustain the pressure in the second half. However, playing at their home ground, the profertil arena, might give them the boost needed to return to winning ways.

Historically against LASK Linz, Hartberg has held their own with an unbeaten record comprising 1 win and 4 draws. This statistic will surely instill confidence in the team and its supporters as they look forward to this upcoming match.

LASK

LASK Linz enters this match with a slightly better recent performance than their opponents. Their last five games have resulted in "DWDWL", showing a bit more consistency compared to Hartberg. With 9 wins, 6 draws, and only 3 losses this season, LASK has proven to be a tough competitor in the league.

Their most recent game ended in a stalemate with a 2-2 draw against Austria Klagenfurt at their home ground, raiffeisen arena. The team showed character by securing a point after being level at both halftime and fulltime.

When it comes to head-to-head encounters with Hartberg, LASK hasn't been as dominant as they might have hoped. They have not managed to secure a win in their last five meetings, settling for 4 draws and suffering 1 loss. This record could play on their minds as they travel away from home for this fixture.

Prediction

The prediction for this match suggests that TSV Hartberg might have the upper hand. Playing on home turf where they have historically performed well against LASK could be a significant factor. Moreover, despite LASK's higher position in the league table and better goal difference (+10 compared to Hartberg's +5), past performances indicate that Hartberg has found ways to stifle LASK's approach.

However, football is unpredictable and both teams have shown that they can score goals and defend when needed. With both sides having much to play for, it's expected that they will each put up a strong fight to claim all three points.

As per the provided data indicating "winner":"TSV Hartberg", it seems that Hartberg is slightly favored to come out on top in this encounter. Fans can look forward to what should be an exciting match with both teams eager to improve their standing as the season progresses.