Chronic scoring jam

LASK and BW Linz moan – their goalscoring is not great!

Mensah against Renner in the Linz derby(Bild: Dostal Harald)

Ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga matches between Blau-Weiß and Austria and between LASK and Altach, the two Linz clubs are finally hoping to score goals again. The Black & Whites have been without a goal in two games and are also missing the suspended Robert Zulj.

Goal in Altach! The LASK professionals form a jubilant crowd around goalscorer Robert Zulj, the commentator on Sky goes into overdrive, the Black & White fans go crazy in the stands... Unfortunately, it was all just rose-tinted dreams ahead of today's away match in the Ländle. Firstly, Zulj is suspended and secondly, goals are an endangered species at LASK, who suffer from a chronic lack of goals. Most recently, the Black & Whites scored just as little in the 0-0 draw in Hartberg as they did in the 0-1 home draw against WAC. While-although the conditions are different-the second Linz club is also stingy with goals ahead of today's home game against Austria: In the last six (winless) games, blue and white have never managed more than one goal, and not a single one in the second half.

Blue and white lack experience
With the exception of Ronivaldo (six goals this season), no attacking spirit really exudes danger at the promoted team: Whereby attackers Mensah (2), Seidl (2), Noß (1), Feiertag (1) and Ibrahmi (0) are all contesting their first Bundesliga season, as are wingers Pirkl (3 goals this season) and Gölles (2). "Defending is always more difficult than attacking, which also has a lot to do with experience and quality. And all teams struggle in the final third. Although my feeling is that we are not far away from scoring goals," said BW Linz coach Gerald Scheiblehner. He had already emphasized before the start of spring that they would have to create more chances, as the high level of efficiency in finishing would be difficult to maintain. "But offensively we lack a bit of penetration," says Marco Krainz, one of the few creative players who grew up in the Austria youth team.

LASK coach Sageder is hoping for goals in Altach.(Bild: GEPA pictures, Photohop)

At local rivals LASK, who will be without suspended coach Standfest, it is the man who has scored three of LASK's last five goals (in five games), but has often been unfortunate, who is expected to save the day in Altach: Marin Ljubicic. Hard to believe: LASK's expected starting eleven has only scored nine goals this season. Which is not due to the defense: Philipp Ziereis, Felix Luckeneder and Filip Stojkovic have scored four times - but the midfield and wingers are almost on a zero diet as far as their hunger for goals is concerned.

Top 6 place not yet fixed
Even if it is unlikely that LASK will miss out on the top 6 - the mere fact that it can be speculated about is an embarrassment for the self-proclaimed hunters of Salzburg and Sturm. And nerves would be on edge if they were to lose in Altach and thus continue their winless spring season. Because nobody wants a final match against Salzburg.