LASK vs Rapid Viena

Faced with Red Bull Salzburg's monopoly since 2007, and with a glimmer of hope that other teams will take the title away from them, first place seems utopian for the Lask, who will nevertheless try to fight for what would be the second title in their history, having won it in 1965.

Rapid Vienna are Austria's most successful team with a total of 32 titles, but their last was in 2008. The team did not even manage to finish in the top three last season, which is the main goal for this season.

Lask managed to maintain good performances during the last season. The team won a total of 14 out of 32 games and suffered only six defeats during that period.

It should be noted that the team managed to maintain a good offensive level, averaging close to two goals scored per game, while the defense was not very strong, conceding 38 goals.

Since the end of the season, the team has played a total of six friendlies and has maintained a positive level, winning five of them, having recently achieved a crushing 0-6 victory over Rothis in the Austrian Cup.

The team currently coached by Thomas Sageder did not make any major financial moves in the market, having neither paid nor received money for any of the players who arrived or left. Notable arrivals were Senegalese Moussa Kone and Ivan Ljubic.

Rapid Vienna finished fourth in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. The team performed quite consistently, with 12 wins in 14 games and 14 losses in 32 games. This consistency was also evident in goals scored and goals conceded, 50 and 47 respectively.

However, it should be noted that the team's worst performances came in the last few games, with only one win in the last eight league games.

The team failed to maintain their best pre-season form, winning just one of five preparation games and losing three, but bounced back with a deserving 0-7 win over Donaufeld Wien in the Austrian Cup.