4-0 home win against Blau Weiß Linz!

Andreas Gruber was the man of the match with three goals, while Fisnik Asllani scored his first goal for Austria Wien. The Violets celebrated an unchallenged home victory against the promoted team from Linz.

Michael Wimmer was forced into a completely new variation in the defensive midfield due to the suspensions of Matthias Braunöder and James Holland and the injury to Manfred Fischer. Aleksandar Jukić and Marvin Potzmann were given their chance. Lucas Galvão returned to central defense and Manuel Polster started on the left side of midfield. In attack, Fisnik Asllani started in place of Muharem Husković.

Blau-Weiß Linz were unbeaten for five games including the Cup, coach Gerald Scheiblehner made a nominal change after the 0-0 draw against Austria Klagenfurt: Alem Pašić started in place of Michael Brandner.

Gruber with the brace

Austria started strongly, Blau-Weiß Linz attracted attention at the beginning, especially with harshness. Referee Jakob Semler, making his debut in the Bundesliga, issued two yellow cards in the first five minutes. Asllani had the first chance for the Violets, but his shot went wide of the goal (9th). Manuel Polster failed in his attempt to lift over the rushed Linz goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid (14th). Christian Früchtl had to intervene for the first time with a header from Conor Noss after a cross from Ronivaldo (29th).

Austria dominated the game, but struggled to create any scoring chances for a long time. But Andreas Gruber cracked the Linz defense with a brace within three minutes: Dominik Fitz provided the assist for 1-0 with a perfect pass, the 2-0 came from a beautiful combination via Asllani and Polster, Fitz let through, Gruber scored for the second time - the fifth and sixth goals of the Bundesliga season for the violet winger.

Thus, the Violets went into the halftime break with a small lead.

Asllani scored his first goal, Gruber added another one

Austria came out of the dressing room well, Dominik Fitz shot just past the goal after an assist from Reinhold Ranftl (47th). Goalkeeper Schmid prevented Andi Gruber's third goal with a good save, but Fisnik Asllani dusted off and made it 3-0 with his first goal for Violett (55th).

Früchtl was on hand to deal with a shot from Ronivaldo (62nd), then it was the home side's turn again. A shot by Potzmann missed the target and Ranftl had a chance to finish (66th, 67th). A beautiful counter-attack via Ranftl and Potzmann ended with Polster, whose shot narrowly missed the second bar (68th).

Romeo Vučić came on for Asllani in the 70th minute, the first change for the Veilchen. Fitz missed a chance after Ranftl's cross (75th), before the man of the evening, Andi Gruber, struck again. Austria played a kick wonderfully out of their own penalty area, via Potzmann and Fitz the ball came to Gruber, who thoughtfully scored his third goal - 4-0 (77th).

Andreas Gruber was then allowed to collect his farewell applause, Muki Husković came into the game for the triple scorer. A little later, Hakim Guenouche and Matan Baltaxa replaced Manuel Polster and Dominik Fitz. The guests from Linz had nothing more to counter except for a shot from Kristijan Dobras (88th), Austria clearly won 4-0 against the promoted team.

Austria Wien - Blau Weiß Linz 4-0 (2-0)

Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Martins, Galvão; Ranftl, Jukić, Potzmann, Polster (84th Guenouche); Gruber (79th Husković), Fitz (84th Baltaxa), Asllani (70th Vučić)

Linz: Schmid; Pašić (78th Haudum), Maranda, Mitrović; Gölles, Krainz, Koch, Pirkl (57th Briedl); Mensah, Ronivaldo (65th Feiertag), Noss (57th Dobras)

Goals: Gruber (38th, 40th, 77th), Asllani (55th)

Yellow cards: Martins (69th); Krainz (4th), Mitrović (5th), Koch (63rd)

Generali-Arena, referee Jakob Semler, 12,663 spectators