LASK - Ried: the defending champion welcomes a neighbour who knows how to complicate a derby
LASK and SV Oberbank Ried meet in the third round of the Austrian Bundesliga at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:30, and the Friday evening slot increases the importance of arriving early and planning urban transport.
The home side enters the season as the 2025/2026 Austrian champion. Didi Kühbauer's team opened the new campaign with a 3:0 victory against Grazer AK 1902, with two goals from Samuel Adeniran and a final goal from Christoph Lang. Ried drew 1:1 away at SC Austria Lustenau, with Jussef Nasrawe equalising through a precise shot from outside the penalty area. After the first round, LASK were at the top with three points and a goal difference of +3, while Ried had one point.
The guide was prepared on 6 August, before the second round. Before the derby, LASK visit FK Austria Wien, while Ried host SK Rapid. Those results may change the table and the selection of the starting line-ups, but the basic framework remains the same: the champion wants to confirm its authority, while Ried arrive with no intention of being mere extras.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters, especially because it is a regional contest at a stadium with a capacity of 19,080 spectators.
What is already at stake in the third round
The championship is not won in August, but pressure builds quickly. LASK are defending the title and must turn home matches like this into points. Last season, they were chasing the top. Now everyone is chasing them.
In the previous season, Ried reached the final play-offs as a newly promoted side and defeated Wolfsberger AC 2:1 and Rapid 2:1 in May. In doing so, they showed that they can perform under pressure when a match becomes physical and full of second balls.
The start of 2026/2027 brought a change on the bench. Mario Despotovic took over Ried in June and signed a contract until 2028. In the first round, he sent five new players onto the pitch, but his team still had enough continuity to equalise quickly after conceding and push for victory in the closing stages.
For both sides, this match presents three clear tests:
- LASK must show that the high standard from the first round was not merely the result of a poor day for Grazer AK 1902.
- Ried must prove that they can retain their composure and play out with the ball under stronger pressure from the home side.
- Both coaches must manage the workload after the second-round matches, which are played only a few days earlier.
- An early goal could completely change the visitors' plan and open space for faster attacks from both sides.
LASK immediately demonstrated their attacking depth
The 3:0 victory against Grazer AK 1902 was convincing in the statistics as well. LASK had 58.8 percent possession, 23 shots, ten on target and an 87.5 percent pass-completion rate. Kühbauer's team want to have the ball, move the game into the opposition half and create different types of finishes.
Samuel Adeniran set the standard with two goals in the opening half-hour. As the central striker, he occupies the centre-backs and opens space for the midfielders. If Ried's centre-backs remain too deep, LASK can circulate the ball around the penalty area. If they step out too high, space opens up behind them.
Christoph Lang added the third goal following a long pass from Melayro Bogarde. That move is particularly important when previewing the derby because it shows that LASK do not have to build every attack through a long combination. One high-quality vertical ball can bypass the block and immediately put an attacker into a finishing position.
Sascha Horvath remains an important link, while Robert Ljubicic, Krystof Danek and Alessandro Schöpf give Kühbauer more options in midfield. George Bello and Kasper Jörgensen provide width, while Andrés Andrade and Joao Tornich can begin attacks with short passes.
LASK's key assets at the start of the season:
- Samuel Adeniran - two goals in the first round and the main reference point in the penalty area.
- Christoph Lang - scorer against Grazer AK 1902 and a player capable of attacking the space behind the defence.
- Sascha Horvath - important for the tempo, passes between the lines and set pieces.
- Lukas Jungwirth - opened the season without conceding a goal.
- Melayro Bogarde - came off the bench and assisted the third goal with a long ball.
The available announcements up to 6 August did not include a confirmed list of absentees for the match against Ried. Therefore, it makes no sense to declare any player a definite absentee in advance. The final picture will become clearer after the second round and the club information released immediately before the derby.
Ried have youthful creativity, experience and dangerous set pieces
Ried displayed two important qualities in Lustenau. First, they did not lose their structure after conceding in the 26th minute. Second, they had several different ways of creating danger. Samuel Chukwudi threatened after a set piece, Evan Aisowieren had a shot before the break, and Jaedin Rhodes's goal in the second half was ruled out for offside. In the closing stages, Pape Sissoko came close with a header.
The most interesting player in that performance was Jussef Nasrawe. The 19-year-old left-footer equalised with a shot from approximately 20 metres, took set pieces and connected the midfield with the attack. His role against LASK could be twofold: helping Ried escape the press with short passes, while also quickly attacking the space when the home side lose the ball with a large number of players positioned ahead of it.
Experience is provided by Stefan Schwab, Andreas Leitner, Michael Sollbauer, Philipp Pomer, Martin Rasner and Ante Bajic. Despotovic can therefore combine composure with the speed of the younger players.
Ried's set pieces deserve attention. Last season, Nasrawe assisted Nikki Havenaar from a corner against Rapid, while Oliver Steurer created a goal against Wolfsberger AC. Although part of the squad has changed since then, the idea remains that free kicks, corners and long throw-ins can create an advantage without prolonged possession. Against LASK, who will probably have more of the ball, precisely those situations may offer the shortest route to a goal.
Ried will have to watch the space behind the wide defenders. In Lustenau, Despotovic started with Malicsek, Chukwudi, Steurer and Sorg in the back line. Against LASK, that block must not leave too much space between the centre-backs and midfielders, because Horvath, Lang and Danek can receive the ball precisely in that zone.
Tactical contest: home pressure against visiting discipline
LASK began the first round with five nominal defenders, but the number on paper does not fully describe the team's behaviour. Bello and Jörgensen can push forward, Horvath moves into spaces where the defence struggles to decide who should pick him up, and Adeniran remains high. When the home side win the ball in the opposition half, a finish can come within only a few passes.
It would suit Ried to slow down the opening 20 minutes. If they survive the initial surge, they can look for Nasrawe between the lines, use Bajic or Rhodes out wide and attack the far post. After winning the ball, the midfield must move forward quickly.
Three areas could decide the match: the space around Adeniran, the centre of the pitch and set pieces. Regional derbies are often decided by an unnecessary foul, a lost duel following a corner or a poor reaction to a loose ball.
The history of the fixture confirms that Ried can remain close. The league record since 1974/1975 covers 50 matches: LASK have 15 victories, Ried 19, while 16 matches ended in draws. The last league encounter before this match ended 1:1 in Ried, with goals from Antonio Van Wyk and Moses Usor. Results have often been tight in the more recent period, so LASK's convincing start does not guarantee a straightforward Friday.
Raiffeisen Arena: what to expect in the stands
The Raiffeisen Arena is located at Ziegeleistraße 76 in Linz and has a capacity of 19,080 spectators. The stadium has eight designated entrances, from E1 to E8. The visiting section uses entrance E6, while the remaining entrances are allocated to the home sections and business areas. There are seven kiosks in the public area, and the visiting section has its own kiosk.
The organisation of the visiting supporters' arrival is particularly important for the derby. On 5 August, SV Ried announced that its supporters' clubs were organising bus departures from Ried im Innkreis. The club also warned that Ried colours and symbols are not permitted in sections outside the visiting area. Travellers should therefore check the section stated on their ticket before departure, rather than only when they reach the entrance.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly when the champion, a regional rival and an evening kick-off come together. It is worth securing tickets in good time.
The home ASK standing terrace sets the rhythm, while the organised arrival of the visiting fans means that Ried will not be playing in front of a silent corner of the stadium. The home pressure and visiting resistance should be clearly audible from the warm-up.
Payments inside the stadium are cashless. Standard cards are accepted, as are payments by smartphone or watch. The stadium is non-smoking, except in designated areas. Entrances E1, E2, E3 and E5 are adapted for wheelchair users, and there are ten designated parking spaces for people with disabilities around the arena.
Arrival, parking and entry time
For a match beginning at 19:30, the simplest plan is to arrive in the wider centre of Linz earlier and complete the final part of the journey by public transport or on foot. In its information for home matches, LASK recommends urban transport, while drivers are directed towards garages in the city instead of searching for a space immediately next to the stadium.
A practical reminder for visitors:
- The stadium address is Ziegeleistraße 76, Linz.
- Entrance E6 is used for the visiting section.
- Among the garages listed by LASK for home matches are Garage am Bahnhof, Raiffeisen Garage Südbahnhof, City Parkhaus, Garage im Zentrum and Elisabeth Garage.
- In the most recently published instructions, the fan zone opened three hours before kick-off, while the interior of the stadium opened an hour and a half before kick-off.
- The exact opening time for the match against Ried should be confirmed in the club information before the game because operational details may change.
If the usual schedule from previous home matches is applied, the fan zone would open at around 16:30 and the interior of the stadium at around 18:00. This has not been confirmed in advance for this specific match, so it should be treated as guidance rather than a final schedule.
Linz is a city on the Danube, and the main railway station is connected to the city's buses and trams. Arriving by train avoids the search for parking, while drivers should allow for short-term parking zones and heavier traffic.
For those arriving from Ried im Innkreis, buses organised by the supporters' groups reduce the parking problem and direct passengers straight towards the visiting section. For everyone else, it is practical to allow additional time for ticket checks, security screening and finding the correct entrance.
What to watch from the first whistle
The opening ten minutes will show whether Ried intend to press the home side's build-up or close off the centre. A high press will accelerate the decisions of Jungwirth and the centre-backs, while dropping back will give Horvath and Ljubicic more of the ball.
The second indicator will be the positioning of LASK's wide players. When both are high, the home side create width and a large number of crossing options, but leave space for counter-attacks. Ried will then try to find Nasrawe or one of the wingers with the first pass before the home defence can recover into its block.
The third indicator is the number of fouls around the penalty area. Ried have quality set-piece takers, while LASK are dangerous from deliveries and loose balls. The team that remains more disciplined in the duels will probably spare itself several highly uncomfortable situations.
Ticket sales for this match are under way. For supporters planning the trip, the best schedule is to combine an earlier arrival in Linz with entering before the largest crowds form, because an evening regional derby attracts both regular visitors and spectators who attend only the more prominent matches.
Sources:
- Bundesliga.at - the date, time and venue of the match, the table after the first round, statistics from LASK - Grazer AK 1902, the report on SC Austria Lustenau - SV Ried and the historical head-to-head record.
- LASK - the squad and coaching staff, the 2025/2026 championship title, information about the Raiffeisen Arena, entrances, kiosks, accessibility, cashless payments and the usual entry arrangements.
- SV Ried - the squad and coaching staff, the appointment of Mario Despotovic, the report from Lustenau and information for visiting supporters and bus departures.
- Linz Tourismus and Stadt Linz - basic information about arrival in the city, parking and the public-transport network.