LASK Linz VS Grazer AK

LASK Linz, the reigning champions of the Austrian Bundesliga, are set to kick off their new season at home. They had a stellar performance last season, claiming both the league and cup titles. With deep squad depth and rich tournament experience, they stand at the top level in the league. In the later stages of pre - season friendlies, their form improved significantly, achieving consecutive clean - sheet victories. Their main tactic is to control the midfield and apply pressure. Flank runs and set - pieces are their key scoring methods. However, some of the rotation players in the team are experiencing fluctuations in physical condition. If they commit a large number of players to high - pressing, the gaps in the flank for defensive cover will be magnified. On the other hand, Graz AK uses a flexible three - at - the - back or five - at - the - back formation. They are good at compacting their defense and launching counter - attacks through the forward runs of their wing - backs. In pre - season friendlies, their results were inconsistent, indicating a lack of stability. When playing away, the efficiency of their midfield passing decreases, and they are prone to making passing errors under high - intensity pressure.