Final against Sturm

Record player is convinced of the championship group

Hartberg veteran Tobias Kainz (right) is ready for the heart-stopping final against former club Sturm.(Bild: Birbaumer)

What a final! The whole of Hartberg is eagerly awaiting the clash against Sturm on Sunday (17)! The stadium has long been completely sold out. The fans want to whip the Schopp team into the championship group. A point would be enough for the team from Eastern Styria. Veteran Tobias Kainz knows why the underdogs will make it.

Nobody can fool Tobias Kainz. He is routine personified at Hartberg. The 31-year-old has played a total of 253 Bundesliga games, 166 times for the team from Eastern Styria in the top division, making him their record player. The midfielder is looking forward to Sunday's thriller final against Sturm for a place in the championship group with the necessary composure. "There's no sign of nervousness, but you can already feel the fire burning in training. There's a really good tempo, everyone is giving 100 percent," says Kainz.

Just one more sleep. "Everyone is hungry and fired up for this match and can hardly wait for Sunday," says the record-breaking man, who has been lacing up his boots for the league underdogs for almost six years and has won every battle since promotion in 2018. Against relegation and in the championship group (2019/20). "In the past, we've often had decisive games like this, even on the last matchday. And we've managed that. That's why we're so confident that we'll be able to do it on Sunday," said the midfielder, clenching his fist.

No talks yet
Sturm are, of course, a heavyweight in the final game of the basic round. The last two duels were each lost 1-2, but in September 2022 Kainz snatched a point from his former club in Graz (0-0). As is well known, a draw would be enough for Schopp's side to advance to the championship group on Sunday.

Hartberg drew 0-0 in Graz in September 2022.(Bild: Sepp Pail)

"The match against Sturm will be a special game. For the club, for the entire region! The stadium has been sold out for days, the atmosphere will be great. We have to soak up this energy!" emphasizes Kainz, whose contract expires at the end of the season. "There haven't been any contract talks yet," says the Feldbach native, who can of course well imagine staying in his "second home". Before that, however, he wants to crown his brilliant season with Hartberg with the championship group.