SC Austria Lustenau vs Wolfsberger AC: the returnee seeks its first league victory against a strong WAC
SC Austria Lustenau and Wolfsberger AC meet at the SUN MINIMEAL Arena in Lustenau in the third round of the Austrian Bundesliga. For the home side, it is a continuation of their comeback season in the top flight, while WAC arrive in Vorarlberg after a very convincing start to the championship.
The start of the season has already shown two different stories. Austria Lustenau picked up a point against SV Ried and then lost 2:1 away to Grazer AK 1902 in the second round. Wolfsberger AC opened the championship with a 3:0 victory against FK Austria Wien, while before the trip to Lustenau they still have a home match against Red Bull Salzburg. Because of that, the complete picture of WAC's form ahead of the third round will become clearer only after Sunday's second-round programme.
For SC Austria Lustenau, the home fixture carries additional weight. Markus Mader's team have one point after their first two league appearances and now return in front of their supporters to a stadium that was already very well attended in the opening round. There were 4,137 spectators in the stands against Ried.
Tickets for this match have been in demand among supporters, especially because it is one of Lustenau's first home matches after returning to the Bundesliga.
Austria Lustenau are still searching for their first victory since returning
Austria Lustenau's return to the championship began with a 1:1 draw against SV Ried. The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute. Seydou Diarra found Danilo Soares, and his cut-back was converted directly by Dominik Weixelbraun for 1:0. Ried equalised eight minutes later through Jussef Nasrawe.
The result was important, but even more interesting was the way Markus Mader assembled his starting team. Six new players were among the starting 11 - Danilo Soares, Dion Kacuri, Dominik Weixelbraun, Precious Benjamin, Lord Afrifa and Niklas Pertlwieser. That says enough about the scale of the changes with which Lustenau entered the new season.
A 2:1 defeat against Grazer AK 1902 followed in the second round. Dion Kacuri equalised early in the second half, assisted by Antonio Verinac, but Alexander Hofleitner restored the hosts' lead later on. Lustenau therefore remained on one point after two matches.
The early results do not mean that the home side lack danger in their play. On the contrary, several players have already established themselves as an important part of Mader's new team structure.
- Dominik Weixelbraun scored Lustenau's first league goal of the new season.
- Dion Kacuri scored for 1:1 away to Grazer AK 1902.
- Precious Benjamin had earlier secured a 1:0 victory against Kremser SC in the team's first cup appearance of the season.
- Sacha Delaye is dangerous from set pieces and already caused problems against Ried with shots and crosses.
- Seydou Diarra was involved in the move for the goal against Ried and threatened several times from open play.
Mader also has experience in the back line. Matthias Maak is one of the older players in the team, while Pius Grabher provides additional stability in midfield. Alongside them is a large number of younger players and new faces for whom this is the beginning of adapting to the pace of the top flight.
Wolfsberger AC opened the season with three goals and a clean sheet
If the match against FK Austria Wien is taken as the first indication of the new WAC, Thomas Silberberger's team look very dangerous. Wolfsberger AC won 3:0, with aggressive play off the ball and plenty of energy in attacking moves.
Giacomo Vrioni stood out in particular. The summer signing scored twice from the penalty spot, in the 18th and 63rd minutes. Between his two goals, Sky Schwarz made it 2:0 after a run and pass from Donis Avdijaj.
Vrioni has therefore immediately taken on an important role in attack. Donis Avdijaj remains a player capable of creating an overload between the lines and setting up the final shot, while Schwarz already showed in his first appearance that he can make runs into finishing positions. WAC also kept a clean sheet against their Vienna opponents.
Thomas Silberberger took over the team during the spring of 2026, and he now has a squad at his disposal that combines experienced Bundesliga players with several new names. The team includes, among others, Nicolas Wimmer, Raffael Behounek, Rene Renner, Simon Piesinger, Donis Avdijaj, Otar Mamageishvili, Markus Pink and Giacomo Vrioni.
Captain Nicolas Wimmer is one of the important names in defence, while Simon Piesinger can bring experience to the central areas. WAC changed part of their squad during the summer, so the match against Austria Wien was also the first serious indication of how quickly Silberberger has connected the new and established players.
The early standings further increase the importance of the points
The table is still very changeable after only a little more than one round. At the time this guide was prepared, some second-round matches had not yet been played. Wolfsberger AC have three points from one league appearance, while SC Austria Lustenau have one point after two matches.
With such a small sample, no major conclusions should be drawn about the battle for the upper or lower part of the table. Nevertheless, a first victory would be important for Lustenau so that the gap to teams that have started better does not increase early. WAC, meanwhile, have the opportunity to confirm their strong start and show that the 3:0 win against Austria Wien was not merely the result of one successful day.
Home points are especially important for a team returning to the league. During the season, Lustenau will need to make use of the advantage of their compact stadium and the support of a crowd that already almost filled the available capacity against Ried.
What could decide the match
The first major tactical challenge for Lustenau will be playing out of pressure. WAC played aggressively off the ball from the start against Austria Wien. If the visitors bring a similar approach to Lustenau, the home defence and midfield will not have much time for calm build-up play.
Mader's team showed against Ried that they can be dangerous when they move the ball quickly towards the flanks. The move for the goal was a good example: Diarra found space, Soares moved forward, and Weixelbraun finished the move. Lustenau will look for such situations again if WAC push their lines high.
Another important area will be the hosts' penalty area. Vrioni is a physically strong striker and has already taken responsibility for penalties. Alongside Avdijaj and players arriving from deeper positions, Lustenau's defence will have to pay particular attention to second balls and situations after the first duel.
Set pieces could also play a significant role. Delaye showed his delivery quality against Ried, while Matthias Maak is a target for crosses. On the other side, WAC have enough tall and physically strong players to defend such situations and threaten from their own set pieces at the same time.
Head-to-head meetings warn Lustenau
The last four Bundesliga meetings between these clubs were played in the 2023/24 season, before Lustenau's relegation from the top flight. WAC did not lose in that run.
- Wolfsberger AC - Austria Lustenau 1:1, 12 August 2023.
- Austria Lustenau - Wolfsberger AC 2:3, 11 November 2023.
- Wolfsberger AC - Austria Lustenau 1:1, 20 April 2024.
- Austria Lustenau - Wolfsberger AC 1:2, 23 April 2024.
It is particularly interesting that two of those four matches ended 1:1, while WAC won both away matches in Lustenau by a one-goal margin. The most recent head-to-head meeting ended 2:1 for Wolfsberger AC. Augustine Boakye gave the visitors the lead, Lukas Fridrikas equalised, and Thierno Ballo scored the winning goal late on.
The squads have changed significantly since then, so those results are not a direct prediction of the new meeting. Nevertheless, they show that matches between these opponents have often been close and that WAC have enjoyed slightly more success in recent years.
SUN MINIMEAL Arena offers a different experience from large stadiums
The match will be played at the SUN MINIMEAL Arena at Schützengartenstraße 21, 6890 Lustenau. Following its reconstruction in 2025, the stadium once again became the home of Austria Lustenau's first team.
The capacity is 5,138 spectators, including 2,695 seated and 2,443 standing places. The pitch has natural grass, measures 105 x 68 metres and is equipped with under-soil heating.
For a club that has returned to the Bundesliga, the size of the stadium itself can be an advantage. Spectators are close to the pitch, and more than four thousand people already attended the league opener against Ried. When the stadium is close to capacity, the match gains an intensity that is particularly noticeable during set pieces, periods of home pressure and late stages in which the result remains open.
Places in the stands disappear quickly when interest follows a club's return to the top flight, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
How to get to the stadium
SUN MINIMEAL Arena is located in the urban part of Lustenau and is accessible by public transport, bicycle and car. The club recommends that visitors use more sustainable forms of transport whenever possible.
- The nearest railway station is Bahnhof Lustenau, from where bus connections are available towards the stadium area.
- The GH Engel bus stop is located a few minutes' walk from the arena entrance.
- The main car parking area is located at Rheinvorland, with access via Reichshofstraße between house numbers 14 and 22.
- There is no regular visitor car parking next to the main entrance on matchdays.
- Approximately 800 bicycle parking spaces are located near the main entrance.
Reserved parking spaces are available at the Austria-Center for people with reduced mobility, and access to the stadium is adapted for visitors with limited mobility.
The exact opening time of the entrances for this match had not been confirmed in the verified information at the time this guide was prepared. Visitors who want to avoid crowds are particularly advised to plan an earlier arrival, as the stadium capacity is not large and a significant part of the crowd passes through the relatively compact area around the arena.
Lustenau as a base for visiting supporters
Lustenau is located in the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg, near the Rhine and the border with Switzerland. It is a compact town where the stadium is close enough to urban amenities that visiting a match does not require the complex logistics typical of large metropolitan areas.
Arriving by train and continuing by bus is a practical option for travellers without a car. Those arriving by vehicle should take into account in advance that the main parking area is not located directly next to the entrance. A short walk from Rheinvorland is part of the planned matchday arrival arrangements.
A bicycle is particularly practical for visitors staying in Lustenau or the immediate surroundings, precisely because of the large number of bicycle parking spaces next to the stadium.
The atmosphere could be one of the hosts' advantages
The first Bundesliga match at the SUN MINIMEAL Arena this season attracted 4,137 spectators to a stadium with a capacity of 5,138. That is a strong indicator of the interest surrounding SC Austria Lustenau's return to the top flight.
For visiting WAC, this means a match in a different environment from larger, more open stadiums. The stands are compact, distances are short, and every spell of home attacks can quickly increase the noise around the pitch.
Lustenau will want to make use of exactly that energy after the defeat in Graz. An early goal could completely change the dynamics of the match, because WAC would then have to leave more space open. On the other hand, if the visitors take control first and force the hosts into a prolonged period of defending, the experience of their players could become an important factor.
Ticket sales for this match are ongoing, and interest is further increased by the fact that this is only Lustenau's second home league appearance since returning to the Bundesliga.
Players worth watching
For Austria Lustenau, Dion Kacuri will be particularly interesting to watch. The midfielder has already scored against Grazer AK 1902 and is part of a group of new players who must quickly take responsibility in the Bundesliga. Dominik Weixelbraun already has a league goal, while Precious Benjamin offers pace and directness towards the last line of defence.
Sacha Delaye can change the match with a set piece or a quality final pass. Pius Grabher brings experience to midfield, while Matthias Maak does the same in defence.
For WAC, Giacomo Vrioni is an obvious focus after two goals in the opening round. Donis Avdijaj could be even more important in creating chances because he operates between the lines and can connect midfield with the forwards. Sky Schwarz also made his mark very quickly by scoring on his debut in the new league season.
Silberberger also has Marko Pink as an additional option in attack, while players such as Piesinger, Renner, Behounek and Wimmer provide Bundesliga experience in other lines.
A match that could show how ready Lustenau are for the new Bundesliga rhythm
The first two rounds have already offered the hosts two different tests. Against Ried they managed to take a point in front of their own supporters, while in Graz they ultimately came away without a result despite equalising. Now they face an opponent who showed at the start of the season that they know how to punish mistakes and very quickly turn control of the game into a result.
For WAC, regardless of the outcome of the previous match against Salzburg, this will be a test against a newly promoted Bundesliga opponent at a compact away stadium. For Lustenau, the opportunity is clear: a first league victory since returning and confirmation that SUN MINIMEAL Arena can become a place where opponents find it difficult to take points.
Sources:
- SC Austria Lustenau - schedule, current standings, team squad, coach Markus Mader and reports from the matches against SV Ried and Kremser SC.
- SC Austria Lustenau, SUN MINIMEAL Arena - capacity, distribution of seated and standing places, pitch dimensions, address, public transport, parking and arrival by bicycle.
- RZ Pellets WAC - first-team squad, coach Thomas Silberberger and report from the 3:0 league victory against FK Austria Wien.
- Ligaportal - result Grazer AK 1902 - Austria Lustenau 2:1 and schedule of the second round of the Austrian Bundesliga.
- ESPN and WorldFootball - results of previous head-to-head matches between SC Austria Lustenau and Wolfsberger AC.