After a 4-1 away defeat in the UEFA Conference League round of 16, it will be very difficult for LASK to make it through to the next round. The Linz side were clearly outclassed in their encounter against the Czech league leaders.
This Thursday will probably be the last appearance of an Austrian club in the current European Cup season. After the first leg 1:4 at Slavia Prague, LASK’s hopes of advancing to the Europa-Conference League quarter-finals in front of their own crowd have been reduced to a minimum. The Czech Republic’s serial champions could have won the first encounter at the Eden Arena by an even higher margin despite personnel problems.
“The opponent was superior to us in all aspects right from the start,” LASK coach Andreas Wieland was aware. The Linzers, also handicapped in terms of personnel due to the absences of Marko Raguz (injured) and Sascha Horvath and Andreas Gruber (both ill), were very lucky that the 21-year-old Nigerian Yira Sor, whom they could not get to grips with due to his speed, only scored twice (3rd, 29th). Wieland saw a “very sluggish” performance from his team in the first half-hour. “We didn’t create any pressure on the ball and didn’t fight the duels with the intensity as the opponent,” analysed the 38-year-old.
The quick goal against, which was not unstoppable for the otherwise strong Alexander Schlager, put the guests out of step. “When you start the game like that, you can imagine that it will be difficult,” Wieland said. His players seemed somewhat perplexed by the mixed performance. “We weren’t surprised at all, we knew what was coming. We still weren’t ready, they completely took the fight out of us at the beginning,” said right-back Marvin Potzmann.
Slavia with a broad chest
As Alexander Bah (59th / bar) and captain Peter Olayinka (66th / crossbar) only hit the aluminium, LASK stayed in the game and came through Husein Balic out of nowhere for the connecting goal (67th). After that, the guests seemed to be equal, but did not manage to keep the “good” result due to the course of the game. Olayinka (83rd) and Ibrahim Traore (85th) scored twice to give Slavia a deserved triumph.
“Against a team that has so much speed and quality, it was definitely too little from us,” Wieland knew. Their opponents stayed in the flow with their seventh consecutive competitive match win. “You saw what confidence does. A team that is at the top of the table, has just won the derby and eliminated Fenerbahce in the intermediate round, comes out with a corresponding chest. You could tell,” said Wieland. His team, on the other hand, won only one match in six attempts in 2022.
Wieland was very annoyed by the goals conceded in the final period. “After the 1:2 we were perhaps too greedy to score the equaliser. That’s why there were spaces for Slavia and we conceded two more stupid goals.” Potzmann also saw it that way: “At the end we were too naive.” LASK will therefore have their backs to the wall next week in the alternative stadium St. Pölten. “I could have lived with a 1:2, the 1:4 makes the situation for the second leg understandably difficult,” said Wieland. Nevertheless, nobody wants to throw in the towel prematurely. “We had a very bad day, but on Thursday we will try to make the impossible possible,” said Peter Michorl. That would also be to Potzmann’s liking, who said: “We have to learn from the defeat and do better next week. We still have a chance. “
Slavia not giving up on LASK yet
The Czechs have all the trumps in their own hands, mainly thanks to Sor. “When he is in top form, he is a player for whom the Czech league is actually too small,” Slavia coach Jindrich Trpisovsky revealed. Ex-LASK player Mads Emil Madsen spoke of a “very good” result after his first appearance and assist. But his coach warned against too much euphoria. “We have created a good starting position, but the duel is not over yet. LASK is still dangerous because they act much better and more confident in home games.”
In addition, there are personnel worries at the Czech serial champions. In addition to long-term absences, the club is currently suffering from a wave of colds, according to official reports. On Wednesday, two players called off, and on match day two more, including Ivan Schranz, joined them. “We have to see that it doesn’t spread, that we don’t have more absences,” Slavia’s coach said. Czech Republic’s league leaders host Slovan Liberec on Sunday, while LASK host WSG Tirol in Pasching in their qualifying group opener.
