0:0 - Point against Blau Weiß Linz with a short-handed team

Austria were already short-handed in the 16th minute due to a yellow card against starting XI debutant Moritz Wels, but were able to pick up a deserved point against the promoted side from Linz. The Violets conceded little and were even closer to victory towards the end of the game.

Lucas Galvão returned to the team after his suspension, Marvin Martins was fit in time and also started in central defense alongside Johannes Handl. Moritz Wels made his starting debut in midfield, while Frans Krätzig moved back to left-back. Coach Michael Wimmer had to do without Romeo Vučić due to illness, with Muharem Husković starting up front alongside Dominik Fitz and Andreas Gruber.

Blau Weiß Linz coach Gerald Scheiblehner made three changes from the 0-0 draw against Austria Lustenau: Marcel Schantl, Tobias Koch as well as Conor Noß replaced Lukas Tursch, Julian Gölles and Marco Krainz.

Goalless first half, Austria outnumbered early on

Blau Weiß Linz had the first opportunity of the first game of the 24th round, Alexander Briedl took a long throw-in, Christian Früchtl was wide awake and fended off the sharp shot (2'). Shortly afterwards, Ronivaldo ran alone towards Früchtl but placed his lob next to the goal (5). Austria responded with a solo effort from Frans Krätzig, but his shot missed the target (8').

Moritz Wels' debut unfortunately came to an end in the 16th minute, the 19-year-old was yellow-carded twice in the space of three minutes and thus saw red. Reinhold Ranftl almost gave the Violets the lead, but his shot from long range missed the target by millimeters (19').

Austria had more possession despite being outnumbered, but Linz remained dangerous on the counter-attack. Conor Noß hit his own teammate with a shot (33'). The game went into the break at 0-0.

Austria closer to victory at the end

Austria came out of the dressing room unchanged, Frans Krätzig, who moved to the middle after Wels was sent off, remained the home team's biggest asset. Blau Weiß Linz had a chance with a deflected shot from Marcel Schantl, but Chris Früchtl was on hand to save (52'). The Austria goalkeeper also made a confident save when the Linz full-back made another attempt just a minute later. Früchtl did not have to intervene with a shot from Paul Mensah, the ball went past the goal (63').

The Violets' attacking actions became rarer and coach Michael Wimmer made two changes after 70 minutes: Hakim Guenouche and Manuel Polster came on for Andreas Gruber and Dominik Fitz. After a quick counter-attack via the two substitutes, Krätzig had the chance to take the lead, but missed from an acute angle (77'). Lucas Galvão then got on the end of a corner kick, but Nicolas Schmid in the Linz goal made the save (82'). Alexander Schmidt came on for Muki Husković in the final minutes, but the result remained the same. The next home game at the Generali-Arena will be against Austria Lustenau next Saturday.

Austria Wien - Blau Weiß Linz 0:0

Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Martins, Galvão; Ranftl, Fischer, Wels, Krätzig; Gruber (71' Polster), Fitz (71' Guenouche), Husković (87' Schmidt)

Linz: Schmid; Schantl (69' Gölles), Maranda, Strauss; Mensah, Briedl, Koch, Pirkl; Seidl (84' Krainz), Ronivaldo (76' Dobras), Noß

Yellow cards: Wels (13'), Handl (28'), Krätzig (37'), Galvão (64'), Ranftl (66'); Ronivaldo (69'), Briedl (90+3')

Yellow-red card: Wels (16')

Referee Arnes Talic; Generali-Arena, 11,729 spectators