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LASK against Red Bull Salzburg LIVE from 5pm

Fernando(Bild: GEPA pictures)

It took champions Red Bull Salzburg just 27 seconds after kick-off to make it 1-0 at LASK - and it was also the final score against Linz, who are still winless in the spring.

Defending champions Red Bull Salzburg start the championship group of the Bundesliga as league leaders. The serial champions beat third-placed LASK 1-0 in their final game of the basic round on Saturday. The golden goal was scored by the Brazilian Fernando in the very first minute. Salzburg extended their lead over Sturm Graz to five points for the time being. The first runner-up is still in action on Sunday in Hartberg before the points split.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Salzburg were missing top scorer Karim Konate, who last scored in the 1-0 win over Austria Klagenfurt, through suspension. The only personnel change was therefore the return of playmaker Oscar Gloukh, who had been absent last week for personal reasons. The Israeli was in his home country for the funeral of his best friend, who was killed in action in the Gaza Strip, but returned to training on Wednesday.

LASK coach Thomas Sageder opted for an offensive approach in front of 14,800 spectators. Lenny Pintor played from the start for the first time in 2024, while attacker Moses Usor moved back to left midfield. Valon Berisha and the recently suspended captain Robert Zulj also came into the team against their former club. However, Zulj had to leave the pitch before the break with a knee injury.

Fernando(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Lightning goal after 27 seconds
Salzburg struck after just 27 seconds. Gloukh had plenty of space in a transitional situation and sent Amar Dedic deep. His cross was converted by Fernando, who had already scored twice in the Cup quarter-final at LASK (3:2) at the beginning of February. The goal also withstood a VAR review for possible offside. Petar Ratkov headed wide from a Maurits Kjaergaard free-kick (11').

Zulj went to ground for the first time after a quarter of an hour. The 32-year-old gritted his teeth and tried again, but ultimately had to take a seat on the bench with a knee thickly bandaged with ice. Linz were not fazed by the loss of their all-rounder in attack and were at least on a par in terms of chances before the break. After a mistake by Oumar Solet, Pintor lost the duel with Salzburg keeper Alexander Schlager. Marin Ljubicic was unable to get the follow-up shot on target (19').

Schlager was also at his best against Sascha Horvath in LASK's strongest phase (22'). A long-range shot from Usor forced him to make a fist save (46'). At the other end, Maxim Talowjerow almost scored an own goal after a feed from Aleksa Terzic (31'). In stoppage time, Tobias Lawal prevented a 2:0 with a brilliant foot save from Fernando, who had been played in by Gloukh (49'). The strong Gloukh also tried his luck himself (50').

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

After the break, Lawal had to intervene against Ratkov (52). He also took the ball off Fernando's foot in a one-on-one after he had pushed the ball too far on the counter-attack following Gloukh's pass (58'). Lucas Gourna-Douath shot just over the goal after a solo run by Fernando (65'). LASK did not give up, but hardly found any compelling scenes and were also lucky with some poorly finished transition situations by Salzburg.

Series of successes
Salzburg extended their record run in the Bundesliga to a season-high 26 away games without defeat. The Bulls are unbeaten in eleven league games, but have only scored more than one goal once in the last seven - in a 7-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Austria Lustenau. The champions have kept a clean sheet in 13 of their 22 matches in the basic round, including the three most recent games.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

LASK have now not won ten league home games against Salzburg. Linz are still waiting for their first win after six competitive matches in 2024. Sageder's team have failed to score a single goal in their last four games. The Upper Austrians finished the basic round with just 36 goals scored. In the worst case scenario, they could drop back to fifth place on Sunday.

LASK- Red Bull Salzburg 0:1 (0:1)
Linz, Raiffeisen Arena, 
14,800 spectators
SR Ciochirca.

Goal: 0:1 (1.) Fernando

LASK: Lawal - Ziereis, Andrade, Talowjerow (89. Taoui) - Flecker, Horvath, Berisha (67. Jovicic), Usor - Ljubicic, Zulj (29. Bello), Pintor (67. Havel)

Salzburg: Schlager - Dedic (73. Daniliuc), Solet, Pavlovic, Terzic (86. Guindo) - Bidstrup (86. Diambou), Gourna-Douath, Kjaergaard - Gloukh (69. Forson) - Fernando (69. Simic), Ratkov

Yellow cards: Jovicic or none