Grazer AK vs Salzburg Prediction: Red Bull Salzburg is expected to overcome Grazer AK with a 4-2 victory in their Austrian Bundesliga opener, showcasing their superior attacking depth while the newly-promoted hosts put up a spirited challenge at home.
The Austrian Bundesliga kicks off its 2024-25 season with a compelling matchup as newly-promoted Grazer AK hosts perennial powerhouse Red Bull Salzburg at Merkur Arena on Friday evening. This clash pits the ambitious newcomers against the league’s dominant force of the past decade, setting the stage for an intriguing battle.
Match Details
Date: August 2, 2024
Time: 18:30 UTC
Venue: Merkur Arena, Graz
Match Preview
Grazer AK’s return to the Austrian Bundesliga after a 17-year absence adds an element of excitement to the league. The club, under Gernot Messner’s guidance since 2021, secured promotion as Second League champions last season. Their pre-season form has been encouraging, with four wins from five matches, including a notable victory over Turkish giants Besiktas.
Red Bull Salzburg, meanwhile, find themselves in the unfamiliar position of entering a season as the dethroned champions. Their decade-long grip on the title was broken last year by Sturm Graz. The appointment of Pepijn Lijnders, formerly of Liverpool, signals their intent to reclaim their position at the summit of Austrian football.
Grazer AK vs Salzburg Lineups and Team News
Grazer AK
Manager Gernot Messner is likely to rely on a core group of players who secured promotion, with new signing Dominik Frieser expected to feature prominently after impressing in pre-season.
Projected Grazer AK Lineup (4-2-3-1):Filipovic, Lang, Satin, Graf, Lichtenberger, Meierhofer, Italiano, Rosenberger, Frieser, Sebastian Gantsching, Perchtold
Red Bull Salzburg
New manager Pepijn Lijnders will be eager to make a strong first impression in his competitive debut. The prolific Karim Konate is expected to lead the line after his impressive goal-scoring exploits last season.
Projected Red Bull Salzburg Lineup (4-3-3): Piatkowski, Diambou, Amankwah, Baidoo, Capaldo, Guindo, Konate, Krumrey, Pavlovic, Simic, Gloukh
Injury Report and Unavailable Players
Grazer AK
- Markus Rusek: Long-term ankle ligament injury
- Milos Jovicic: Injured, out for this match
- Gabriel Zirngast: Injured, unavailable
- Christoph Nicht: Goalkeeper, sidelined due to injury
Red Bull Salzburg
- Fernando: Forward, ruled out for the season opener
- Alexander Schlager: Goalkeeper, unavailable
- Luka Sucic: Injured, will miss the match
- Daouda Guindo: Sidelined for this fixture
- Janis Blaswich: Not available for selection
- Takumu Kawamura: Out due to injury
Key Players to Watch
Dominik Frieser (Grazer AK): The new signing has already made his mark with a goal in Grazer’s recent cup victory. His experience and attacking prowess could be crucial for the hosts.
Karim Konate (Red Bull Salzburg): The Ivorian forward was a revelation last season, netting 20 goals in 29 league appearances. He’ll be looking to pick up where he left off.
Head-to-Head
The two sides have a rich history, having faced each other 51 times in the past. Their most recent encounter was a friendly in February 2023, which Grazer AK won 4-3 in a thrilling contest.
Form Guide
Grazer AK: The hosts come into the match on the back of a penalty shootout victory in the Austrian Cup, following a 2-2 draw with Velden.
Red Bull Salzburg: The visitors enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season, winning all but one of their matches. They also progressed in the Austrian Cup with a commanding 6-0 win over Dornbirn.
Where to Watch
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport Austria 1 for viewers in Austria. International fans can follow the action via various streaming platforms, including Onefootball.
Grazer AK vs Salzburg Live Stream and TV Schedule for Other Countries:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Moja TV, SportKlub HD Serbia
- Croatia: Sportklub HD Croatia
- Serbia: SportKlub HD Serbia
- Slovakia: Arena Sport 1 Slovakia
- Slovenia: SportKlub HD Slovenia
Who Will Win?
While Grazer AK will be buoyed by their return to the top flight and the energy of their home crowd, Red Bull Salzburg’s quality and depth should prove too much for the newly-promoted side.
Grazer AK vs Salzburg Prediction: Grazer AK 2-4 Red Bull Salzburg
The visitors’ attacking firepower, led by Konate, is likely to overwhelm Grazer’s defense. However, expect the hosts to put up a spirited fight and potentially grab more than one goal in front of their passionate supporters.
This opening fixture sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting Austrian Bundesliga season, with Red Bull Salzburg eager to reassert their dominance and Grazer AK determined to make their mark upon their long-awaited return to the top tier.
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