Preview of the away game at WAC

Austria Wien will face Wolfsberger AC in Carinthia on Saturday (5:00 p.m.). The Violets have their sights set on their sixth win in a row across all competitions, but are warned against the hosts and their strong attack.

The Violets ended October without a blemish with four wins in as many games, and the start to November was also successful, with Stephan Helm's team also celebrating a 2-1 home win against Blau-Weiß Linz.

‘We've now had a shorter training week after a more intensive week with three games. We celebrated important victories in these two home games (WSG Tirol & BW Linz, please note) and in the cup (SV Horn, please note). In the last few days, the focus has of course been on the WAC and we now want to confirm our good performances away from home’, said the coach ahead of the final training session on Friday afternoon.

Wolfsberg were recently beaten 2-1 away to Austria Klagenfurt after winning the Carinthian Cup clash four days earlier on penalties. At home in the Lavanttal Arena, the WAC drew goalless against Red Bull Salzburg at the end of October.

Wolfsberg's attacking power

‘WAC is an established team with a very experienced coach. They are very dangerous this season, especially with their attacking power, have scored a lot of goals and have a lot of experience in the team’, says Helm, referring to the second-best offence in the league. Only league leaders Sturm Graz (27) have scored more goals than Wolfsberg (23) - the Violets are tied for third place with LASK (18).

The Lavanttaler are also strong from set pieces this year: 11 of their 23 goals this season have come from set pieces, which is an absolute top score. The WAC have scored eight goals from corners, while Austria have not conceded a single goal from corners. One thing is clear for the Violets and Stephan Helm: ‘We know what to expect there, have prepared accordingly and have to get our strengths back on the pitch.’

‘Players push each other’

Speaking of strengths: The 41-year-old is pleased with the development of his players. ‘The team's interaction is getting better and better, it's a constant process. However, an important factor for this is that all players - even those who are not currently in the starting eleven - give 100 per cent at all times in training. That's how the players push each other to perform well.’

Personnel situation

Johannes Handl and Luca Pazourek have ‘more or less returned to normal training this week’, reports Helm. Both could get minutes again in the charity match against FCM Traiskirchen next week (15 November). ‘I'm optimistic that we'll be able to use them again soon.’

Philipp Maybach will line up for the Young Violets against Traiskirchen on Friday evening and will therefore not be involved in the game in Wolfsberg. ‘He's got some minutes in the last few weeks and has done very well for long stretches, which is definitely a very positive thing. It was important to me to give him another opportunity to play 90 minutes in the Young Violets' last game of the autumn. We are keeping an eye on his development, want to get the best out of him and think that this game will do him good’, said the head coach.