LASK Linz will be looking to stay in the competition when they host Union SG in the Europa League. On matchday three, the Austrian crop lost 2-1 against their Belgian counterparts. It drops them to the bottom of the section and gives their guests a two-place and four-point advantage.
Preview (LASK Linz vs. Union SG)
Similar to their Europa League debut against Liverpool, LASK Linz led 1-0 at the half in their encounter with Union SG two weeks prior, with Moses Usor trying to lead his team to victory in Group E for the third time. For most of the second half, LASK held onto their slim lead. Union SG pulled even thanks to a penalty from Cameron Puertas in the 84th minute. Then, the Belgian squad stole victory from the jaws of loss with a header in injury time from Christian Burgess.
Though Sageder’s team has never lost four straight European games, a 3-1 victory over Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga this past weekend should at least give them some confidence. Union SG, who had only managed one point out of a potential six points against Toulouse and Liverpool before finishing late on October 26, needed a confidence boost, and that’s exactly what they got on matchday three.
The visitors’ dominating victory is their second in a striking six-game winning streak in both domestic and foreign competition. Union SG added to their positive vibes over the weekend by defeating Club Brugge in a hard-fought match. Kevin Rodriguez, the striker who replaced Amoura, exhaled in relief when his late penalty miss came up empty.
With an unstoppable four-point lead at the top of the Jupiler Pro League standings, Union SG’s victory over LASK this week would secure a top-three finish and prevent Liverpool from sailing off into the last-16 sunset just yet. The Belgian upstarts have also caused a ripple in the net twice in each of their last six victories. Due to defensive shortcomings, they have frequently had to fight fire with fire. Blessin’s team has lost their last five games without keeping a clean sheet.
Team News
Losk Usor, the team’s top scorer, was substituted off the field in the second half of Linz’s match against Union. However, the winger recovered in time to break the deadlock against Sturm Graz the following weekend. If he receives a warning on Thursday, star striker Robert Zulj will miss his team’s match against Liverpool on November 30, but the captain should still be the main man after scoring one goal and assisting on two more in the win against Sturm Graz.
The two-goal forward Amoura and midfielder Lazare Amani were both sent off in the second half. It came at a cost. There have been few updates on the two’s health; however, Amani is thought to be fully recovered and should be able to play this week, which is more than can be said for Gustav Nilsson and his hamstring issue.
LASK Linz 1-1 Union SG
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