All scenarios

Four teams, three places! Showdown for the championship group

Hartberg, Austria Klagenfurt, Austria Vienna and Rapid have a chance of reaching the Champions Group.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The battle for a place in the Champions Group of the Bundesliga will come down to a showdown between four teams in the final round of the basic round. On Sunday (17:00), Austria Klagenfurt (33 points), TSV Hartberg (33), SK Rapid (32) and Austria Wien (30) will be fighting for three places above the "line", and the starting position in the four-way battle for a top six place is clear. Klagenfurt, Hartberg and Rapid will only need a points haul, while Austria will need some help.

The "Veilchen" kept their hopes alive with a 2:1 labor victory at promoted team Blau-Weiß Linz and got their own final against WSG Tirol. "We're in the hunter's role, we know that. As always, we'll play to win against Tirol. No matter what happens on the other pitches, we have to be able to look ourselves in the mirror after the game and say that we gave it our all," said Austria coach Michael Wimmer, looking ahead.

The German had to make a lot of changes again against Linz due to suspensions and suspensions. "The team coped well with that and showed that they have character and are absolutely intact," said Wimmer, praising his squad. With a lot of skill and a little bit of luck, Austria managed to hold on for the win against Linz, who were better in the second half. The Violets must score fully against WSG and hope that Austria Klagenfurt and Rapid do not play to a draw.

Pacult: "We are in pole position"
Klagenfurt regretted the late 1-0 defeat at champions Salzburg - a draw would have been enough to secure a ticket to the Champions Group. "It's a shame that we let the game slip away due to a defensive error," explained Klagenfurt coach Peter Pacult. For a long time, his team - although harmless in attack - had kept the score at zero in a highly disciplined manner, but then Karim Konate came on as a wild card (73'). "We dropped an important point. But we are in fourth place and in pole position," said Pacult.

Even if Austria win, his team can afford to lose against Rapid if Hartberg lose against Sturm Graz at the same time.

Red card tipped the game
The Hartberg side don't necessarily want to risk that, as they were annoyed by a 1-0 defeat at stragglers WSG Tirol on Sunday. Afterwards, coach Markus Schopp put the blame not least on head coach Stefan Ebner. "The decisive sequence was the red card (for Dominik Frieser/35', note), which tipped the game in one direction," emphasized Schopp, who also saw a "clear penalty" for his team after the break. But it was equally clear to him: "Getting angry at the referees is pointless."

The chances of finishing in the top six are good anyway. "We still have a really good starting position in the battle for a place in the championship group. If 33 points are not enough, then we will accept that," said the 50-year-old.

His team can also afford a defeat against Sturm Graz - if Vienna Austria win - if Rapid do not win against Klagenfurt.

Rapid have one point less than Klagenfurt and Hartberg, who missed a great opportunity in the 1-1 draw against bottom side Lustenau and should not slip up in their final appearance in Klagenfurt - a win or draw will be enough in any case. "There's more pressure on the cauldron now, the first real final game. We absolutely want to win this game, regardless of the constellation," said coach Robert Klauß.

WAC firmly in the qualifying group
WAC, on the other hand, have to tick off their participation in the top six, as they did last year. What remains is the hope of making it into the European Cup via the play-offs. The team from Lavanttal immediately set their sights on this goal. "We still have a lot to do," noted coach Manfred Schmid. Next Sunday, his team will face Altach in the final game.

The scenarios at a glance:

The championship group scenarios at a glance, always assuming a win for Vienna Austria over WSG Tirol:

Austria Klagenfurt (4th):

- If win or draw against Rapid

- In case of defeat against Rapid, if TSV Hartberg lose against Sturm Graz

Hartberg (5th):

- In the event of a win or draw against Sturm Graz

- In case of a defeat against Sturm Graz, if Rapid does not win against Klagenfurt

Rapid (6th):

- In case of a win or draw in Klagenfurt

Austria Vienna (7th):

- If Austria Klagenfurt win against Rapid

- If Austria Klagenfurt loses against Rapid