Superb 2-0 home win against Klagenfurt

Dominik Fitz and Maurice Malone scored for the Violets before the break, while Klagenfurt had goalkeeper Simon Spari to thank for his numerous saves to prevent further goals from the home team. The final score was 23-4 and a deserved victory for Austria Wien in front of over 14,000 spectators in the Generali-Arena.

Johannes Handl was absent due to an ankle ligament, with Aleksandar Dragović returning to the team after his yellow card suspension. Dragović started on the right in the back three, Tin Plavotić remained in the centre. Otherwise, head coach Stephan Helm made no changes to the starting XI. Instead of Moritz Wels, who was in action for SV Stripfing and scored a goal, Philipp Maybach was in the squad this time.

Peter Pacult changed the formation from 3-5-2 to 4-5-1, with Jannik Robatsch strengthening the defence. Christopher Cvetko and Keanan Bennetts were new to the team in midfield. Top scorer Ben Bobzien was the solo striker.

Goals from Fitz and Malone plus a firework from the Violets

As expected, Austria from Vienna dominated the game, with Klagenfurt waiting for counter-attacks. The first chance of the game was thwarted by Thorsten Mahrer, who cleared a Nik Prelec cross for a corner from Maurice Malone, who was ready to shoot (6'). A shot from Dominik Fitz was also deflected out for a corner (12'). At the other end, Samuel Şahin-Radlinger saved the Violets from going behind in a one-on-one duel with Ben Bobzien with a great save (14'). The favourites from Favoriten took the lead: A quickly played free-kick reached Reinhold Ranftl on the right, whose precise pass was pushed over the line by Dominik Fitz to make it 1-0 (15').

Abubakr Barry failed to beat Klagenfurt goalkeeper Simon Spari with a shot (19‘), before Maurice Malone increased the lead to 2-0 after an assist from Fitz - Malone's eighth goal of the season, Fitz's tenth assist (20’).

Efficient at the front, strong at the back - Austria had the game under control. In the 33rd minute, Spari fished a header from Tin Plavotić out of the corner. Shortly afterwards, Barry's shot hit the crossbar, and Spari turned Matteo Pérez Vinlöf's spectacular follow-up shot over the bar (36'). Then it was Plavotić's turn again after a corner from Fitz - his header went just over the goal (37'). Lucas Galvão got a shot away, also from a corner, but Spari was on hand again (41').

Şahin-Radlinger prevented a goal on the counter-attack via Dikeni Salifou, Malone had the last chance of the first half (44', 45+1') - a superior Austria went into the break with a well-deserved lead.

Violets had the game under control

The home side continued where they had left off after the break, Maurice Malone had a top chance after just a few seconds following an assist from Nik Prelec, but Spari in the Carinthian goal once again kept the ball out. Another Plavotić header after the subsequent corner went over the goal (46'). Dominik Fitz took a free-kick from long range, but the shot was unfortunately too central (59').

After an hour, Stephan Helm made a double substitution, with Nik Prelec and Aleksandar Dragović leaving the pitch. Philipp Wiesinger made his comeback and joined Marko Raguž on the pitch. A little later, Barry came on for Andreas Gruber.

Gruber had the chance to make it 3-0 in the 75th minute, but Spari was again up to the task and parried the shot from close range. The Klagenfurt goalkeeper also kept the upper hand when Maurice Malone ran alone towards Spari (80'). In the 83rd minute, Gruber's shot was saved by the bar - the score remained 2-0.

A penalty to Maurice Malone was not whistled, the scorer of the 2-0 was then substituted, as was Matteo Pérez Vinlöf, and Marvin Potzmann and Philipp Maybach came on for the final minutes. In stoppage time, a goal by Manfred Fischer was disallowed due to an alleged offside position. Reinhold Ranftl had the last chance, but Spari once again kept the ball out.

An exciting match ended with a 2-0 victory for Austria Wien.

Austria Wien - Austria Klagenfurt 2:0 (2:0)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Dragović (62' Wiesinger), Plavotić, Galvão; Ranftl, Fischer, Pérez Vinlöf (90+1' Potzmann); Fitz, Barry (71' Gruber); Malone (90+2' Maybach), Prelec (62' Raguž)

Klagenfurt: Spari; Szerencsi, Mahrer, Hinteregger, Robatsch; Bonnah, Wernitznig, Salifou (81' Kitz), Cvetko (77' Wydra), Bennetts (77' Tosevski); Bobzien

Goals: Fitz (15'), Malone (20')

Yellow cards: Fitz (25'), Galvão (59'), Pérez Vinlöf (61'), Fischer (90+5'); Salifou (16'), Bennetts (40')

Generali-Arena, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca, 14,379 spectators