LASK's surge after Champions sensation meets unbeaten Salzburg

After the Champions League premier victory on Wednesday, LASK expects a national spectacular duel on Sunday at 5 p.m. against the still unbeaten former league champion Salzburg in the Raiffeisen Arena, live broadcast by Sky. The Bundesliga champion, who after ten rounds holds the top of the table, wants to challenge the second‑placed Bulls, who sit two points ahead of the table neighbours.

LASK's latest triumph in the Champions League came against Sporting Lisbon, where Linz turned the game around from a 0‑1 deficit to win 3‑2. This emotional high follows a period in which the squad of coach Didi Kühbauer could only secure one of the last four league matches, yet after nine rounds they remain the only unbeaten team in the league. “There are two teams that can play football at a good level, it will be the little details that decide,” Kühbauer said. The scorer Krystof Danek added: “We are on the same level. I believe we can beat them.”

Salzburg's current challenges

Salzburg, the current Bundesliga champion, had to accept a 2‑2 final score in the Europa League after leading 2‑0 against Slovenian champions Celje, thereby losing three hard‑earned points. Despite this setback, the defence, with only four goals conceded, remains the clear number one in the league. Coach Danny Röhl emphasized the difficulty of the task: “We are fully aware of how tough our task is. LASK earned a win in the Champions League and built confidence from it.” Goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky added: “Games at LASK are always intense and demand full concentration throughout the entire match.” On the pitch of the Raiffeisen Arena both teams can expect an intense duel.

Personnel questions before the duel

Before the Sunday match, personnel decisions are in focus. For LASK, the returning first‑choice keeper Lukas Jungwirth could be used again if he is medically fit. For the Salzburg side, the involvement of the abdominal‑muscle‑injured Edmund Baidoo is uncertain, with Röhl explaining that the final decision will be made at short notice.

The atmosphere before the duel is, according to Kühbauer, hardly comparable. After the Champions League success, “nothing is allowed at this stage” and for food one can “have a beer”. He added that the boys are very clever today and that he himself cannot sleep.

In the previous season 2025/26, LASK secured two victories over Salzburg on the way to the title in the championship group, which adds further emotional charge to the duel.

The contrast between LASK's emotional surge and Salzburg's defensive stability shows that the match will be more than a regular league duel; both coaches emphasise that small details will decide the three points.