Lustenau
- Lustenau are joint favourites for the 2. Liga title, having amassed 44 points from 23 games.
- Lustenau bounced back from a 3-1 away defeat to Austria Wien II in their last 2. Liga outing with a 3-0 rout of SKN St. Poelten at home and their manager Markus Mader will expect a similar result here.
- The hosts are in good form, having won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five league matches and they remain unbeaten in their last two at home (Won 1, drawn 1).
Rapid Wien II
- Rapid Wien II are 11th, having accumulated 26 points from 24 fixtures.
- Juergen Kerber has made his Rapid II team play with energy and they have not been shy of having a go since his appointment in November 2023.
- This is a young side and the club’s main priority is to develop talent rather than be a force in this division, so Kerber’s side have been playing with a degree of freedom, pressing fearlessly and playing vertical when in possession.
- They have won their last two away fixtures, including a 2-0 success at Kapfenberger SV, but a 4-1 home defeat to SPG HOGO Wels is still fresh in the memory.
Head-to-Head
Lustenau have had little recent joy against Rapid Wien II, failing to win their last home game against the Viennese side and it is a fixture that has split evenly over the last three meetings (Won 1, lost 1, drawn 1).
Key Players
- Mame Wade has bagged four of Lustenau’s last eight goals in their previous five matches and Jack Lahne has been the most reliable scorer for the 2. Liga champions-in-waiting, having netted seven times in 23 league appearances to date.
- Moulaye Haidara has scored seven times in 18 2. Liga appearances for Rapid II and he will be the greatest threat to the home side on the break.
- He will have plenty of space to operate in behind the Lustenau defence, which should play into the hands of Kerber’s more direct side.
Betting Insights
- The odds for over 2.5 goals look generous at 1.53 and the odds for a Lustenau win also look far too big at 1.67, so I’m taking both in combination.
- Both teams to score - No also looks a solid bet at 2.3 as Lustenau will almost certainly keep Rapid II at bay.
Prediction
A home win and a shutout looks the most likely outcome in this 2. Liga clash, although Rapid II will surely score if they have a good day in front of goal.
