Hartberg is hot:

“We finally need that first home win!”

Hartberg will fight for their first home win of the 2024 calendar year against Klagenfurt on Sunday (14:30). No question: If they want to make it into international business, they need to improve their record against the Carinthians.

If you want to get into the European Cup, you need wins now! Hartberg would love to crown their second appearance in the Champions League with a second international campaign this year. However, Austria Klagenfurt also want that - and the Carinthians are not exactly the Eastern Styrians' favorite opponents: In the last eight duels, they have been beaten six times, with only the last two encounters this season ending in two draws (1:1, 2:2). Only captain Jürgen Heil has won once against the Carinthians in the regional league in 2016 with a 5-0 win.

Dominik Frieser is still slightly sour because the "classic X match" at home against LASK on Wednesday was lost by a lucky punch. "It certainly won't be an easy game against Klagenfurt," said the 30-year-old flanker, not unaware of the Pacult team's 4:3 win against champions Salzburg, "just like us, they'll be aiming for three points on Sunday. But we will try to prevent that. To do that, we finally need our first win of the year at home in the Profertil Arena!" TSV haven't won a home treble since the 2-0 win against WAC on December 10.

The former England and Italy international has not yet completely written off the chances of third place, which have become very slim according to coach Markus Schopp: "There are still twelve points up for grabs and we will try to get them."