3-0 home win against Altach before the winter break

The violet express keeps on rolling: With a 3-0 win against Altach, the Violets celebrated their 9th consecutive competitive win at the end of the autumn season and are in second place in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga for the winter. Dominik Fitz opened the scoring with a penalty, followed by Reinhold Ranftl and Nik Prelec in the second half. The visitors from Altach were unable to jeopardise Austria's victory at any stage.

Dominik Fitz returned to the team after his yellow card suspension, while Nik Prelec remained on the bench this time. Tin Plavotić was ruled out due to illness, with Johannes Handl taking his place in central defence. Lucas Galvão was still missing through injury.

Altach coach Fabio Ingolitsch also made two changes after the 1-1 draw against Sturm Graz: Lukas Gugganig and Mohammed Ouedraogo moved into the starting line-up for Leonardo Lukacevic and Oliver Strunz.

Fitz scored from the penalty spot to take the lead

‘Full steam ahead into the new year!’ was the motto of the East Stand and the team took this to heart, immediately putting Altach under pressure with high pressing. A handball by Lukas Gugganig in the penalty area went unpunished (6'). A few minutes later, Paul-Friedrich Koller grabbed the ball and this time referee Alexander Harkam awarded a penalty after an on-field review. Dominik Fitz converted the spot-kick with a shot into the corner of the net - 1-0 in the 12th minute.

Manfred Fischer shot over the goal from a turn, an attempt by Fitz was blocked (13', 16'). Reinhold Ranftl injured his mouth in a collision with Lukas Fadinger, but was able to continue.

Altach tried to get forward with playful means, but most of the time it ended in midfield. Dijon Kameri got through once and shot into the side netting, but Samuel Şahin-Radlinger would have been on hand (29'). In the 31st minute, Philipp Wiesinger scored from a Dominik Fitz free-kick to make it 2-0, but Harkam cancelled the goal after a second video review due to an alleged foul. Abubakr Barry danced past half the Altach defence after a sweet pass from Manfred Fischer, but shot over the bar (43'). In the third minute of stoppage time, Şahin-Radlinger saved a counter-attack from Altach via Luca Kronberger, and Vesel Demaku shot narrowly wide of the goal shortly afterwards. The Violets went into the half-time break with a narrow lead.

Man of the Match: Reinhold Ranftl

Immediately after the restart, Barry dribbled into the penalty area, Ranftl's subsequent shot was blocked and Matteo Pérez Vinlöf also failed to find a way through the tight Altach defence (46', 58'). A shot from Fitz missed the target (55'). Stephan Helm then made two changes: Hakim Guenouche and Nik Prelec came on for Pérez Vinlöf and Andreas Gruber.

Reini Ranftl struck in the 64th minute with an incredible volley to make it 2-0, with Guenouche and Fitz providing the preparatory work. Şahin-Radlinger saved Austria from conceding a goal with a great save from Kameri (67'). Florian Wustinger then came on in place of Barry, but Hakim Guenouche shot over the goal after Ranftl's preparatory work (73'). A picture-book counter-attack by the Violets made it 3:0, Nik Prelec finishing with a powerful shot into the corner after preparatory work by Dominik Fitz and Maurice Malone (76').

Marvin Martins and Marko Raguž replaced Joe Handl and Maurice Malone, the last changes for the Violets. The Violets brought the win home safely and were able to celebrate once again with the almost 12,000 fans in the Generali-Arena.

Austria Wien - SCR Altach 3-0 (1-0)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Wiesinger, Dragović, Handl (80' Martins); Ranftl, Fischer, Barry (72' Wustinger), Fitz, Pérez Vinlöf (59' Guenouche); Gruber (59' Prelec), Malone (81' Raguž)

Altach: Stojanović; Ingolitsch, Estrada, Koller, Gugganig (83' Milojevic); Kameri, Demaku (83' Bähre), Kaiba (72' Jäger), Fadinger (63' Strunz); Ouedraogo, Kronberger (63' Gebauer)

Goals: Fitz (12', penalty), Ranftl (64'), Prelec (76')

Yellow cards: Dragović (53'), Raguž (90+2'); Estrada (22'), Demaku (43'), Koller (45+2'), Kronberger (61')

Generali-Arena, referee Alexander Harkam, 11,953 spectators