Conference League Qualification: Wiener Austria Wants to Show Their "True Face" Against Ostrava

In the Conference League qualification, Vienna Austria is fighting for a spot in the play-offs. In the home game against Banik Ostrava on Thursday (9:00 PM/live ORF 1), the Violets want to make up for the 3:4 from the first leg and, according to sports director Manuel Ortlechner, show their "true face." The Czechs are also not coming with much confidence.

Another Clash Between Vienna Austria and Ostrava in Conference League Qualification Not Ruled Out

Banik has also not fully scored in the domestic league, with only one point from three rounds. Over the weekend, they suffered a 1:2 home defeat against Karvina. Banik fielded a significantly changed starting eleven compared to the home victory against Austria. Austria should not be concerned about any of this. "If we manage to bring our style of play onto the field, then we have the chance to win the game," coach Stephan Helm reiterated mantra-like the day before the match.

Helm continues to rely on an offensive approach. The plan is set. "You can assume that we will not act too cautiously." However, Banik is also not a team that barricades itself at the back. A clash like a week ago - when Austria was trailing 1:3, equalized to 3:3, and conceded another avoidable goal - is not ruled out. Against the pressure, Helm saw his team as prepared: "They have repeatedly shown that they possess character and quality."

Conference League Qualification: Vienna Austria Without Dragovic and Lee Tae-seok

There are no changes in personnel after the 0:2 against WAC. The defensive leader Aleksandar Dragovic, who left the field injured in Ostrava, will also be absent in Vienna. The South Korean left-back Lee Tae-seok is not yet eligible to play. Austria will need to improve regardless if they want to overcome the hurdle. Even in Ostrava, the Violets ruined a better starting position due to defensive errors.

Currently, the balance in the game does not seem to be right, as early attacking often leaves Austria with gaps in their own half. Excluding the not very informative matches against the Georgian club Spaeri, Austria has conceded at least two goals in their appearances against Voitsberg (Cup, 2:3), GAK (2:2), at Banik, and against WAC. In Vienna-Favoriten, they already saw themselves further ahead before the season started.

"We will do everything together to ensure the plane lands"

Ortlechner spoke of a "keyword stability". This has been lost compared to last season. "It is important that we find it again in this relatively young season." The former professional resisted negativism. "Sometimes it seems as if nothing is going right at the moment, but that's not the truth," Ortlechner noted. It is now important to pull together with the team. "In the end, we are all passengers and will do everything together to ensure the plane lands."

Reaching the play-off would be doubly important for Austria. On one hand, the club would collect urgently needed points for the future European Cup seeding list, and on the other hand, the chance to enter the financially lucrative league phase remains alive. In the play-off, NK Celje would most likely be waiting. The Slovenians won their first leg at the Swiss representative Lugano with 5:0.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.