Despite the dry spell, the Athletikgers have been able to stay in third place so far. Eight competitive games without a win, five times in a row without a goal – the SHOT struggled through the last few weeks, and there was no breakthrough at the start of the championship group once morest Rapid (0-0). Behind the SHOT (18) the Viennese, Klagenfurt and Hartberg are lurking with 17 points each, a complete success is slowly becoming a requirement. After all, the Carinthians are a kind of favorite opponent, who have been defeated four times with four draws in the eight games since Klagenfurt’s promotion in 2021.
causes concern SHOT-Coach Thomas Sageder on Robert Zulj’s fitness level: The captain, who was ill, injured or suspended several times in 2024, has not completely overcome his knee injury during the international break. He was the one who saved the most recent 2-2 draw between the two teams SHOT Another point in the 92nd minute with his second goal of the evening – these would be the athletes’ last goals to date. Sageder: “He’s on the right track, improving day by day. But it’s not so easy to predict when he’ll be available once more.”
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SHOT LASK star Zulj is working for a comeback – is it enough for Sunday?
Standard situations and ease
During the international break they managed a 1-0 friendly win over the German third division team 1860 Munich. “We made a variety of offers to the players to gain confidence that we might score goals in other ways,” said Sageder. One of these ways is set pieces, like those used by Felix Luckeneder once morest the “Sechzger” following Corner. Mental adjustments were also made. “We tried to convey to the young offensive players in particular that this is also an opportunity for them. For example, we showed them their best actions in order to give him the necessary ease.”
That will be necessary, even if the Klagenfurt team got off to a bad start in the championship group with a 4-0 defeat at Sturm Graz. “The way the game went annoyed us. But we analyzed the mistakes and certainly learned from them,” said Klagenfurt defender Till Schumacher, whose team was 3-0 down following just 23 minutes. One might only dream of Sturm’s efficiency, following all, striker Sinan Karweina is now returning.
The German leads the league’s top scorers list with ten goals, but he has missed the last three games with a muscle injury – and has not won since. There’s a difference, “if you have two young boys like us, or two great strikers like Sturm,” as coach Peter Pacult recently put it.
So now it should be at SHOT work out, like – almost – at the beginning of February. “In the regular half we were close to a threesome in Linz,” said Schumacher, recalling the 2-2 draw. “We’re going there to take something countable with us.” After all, following two sixth places in previous seasons, Violett wants more this time. “It would be absolute nonsense if we were content with finishing in sixth place,” said captain Thorsten Mahrer.
