NEWS
Altach Provides Update on Massombo: "Holding Numerous Talks"
According to their own statements, the Vorarlberg team is holding talks with Sturm, the league, Massombo and his advisors – the striker is once again not in the squad against Hartberg.
The rest period for Salzburg, Rapid, Austria, and LASK, due to European Cup commitments, brings a "light weekend" to the Fußball-Bundesliga.
The reduced fourth matchday features two games on Saturday, with SCR Altach meeting point-less Hartberg at the Schnabelholz.
Altach Holds "Numerous Talks" with Sturm, League, Massombo
At least for now, things have quieted down around Yann Massombo in Vorarlberg. The forward, who went on strike last week amid a dispute over a move to Sturm Graz, will also be absent against the East Styrians.
The club announced on Friday that they had held "numerous talks" with Sturm, the league, Massombo and his advisors, as well as legal experts, in recent days and would comment on further proceedings early next week.
Zaric on Defeat in Graz: "SCR's Best Game"
Sportingly, Altach has at least met its targets at the start of the season: narrow 0:1 defeats against Rapid and Sturm are contrasted by a 3:1 victory over WSG Tirol.
Coach Ognjen Zaric will likely stick with the starting XI from the defeat in Graz against Hartberg, with the 37-year-old retrospectively praising the first half in Graz as "the best SCR game I've seen. We want to bring that into the game, even if it's a completely different opponent."
Zaric emphasized that Hartberg should not be underestimated despite their three "zeroes" so far. "You have to consider who they've played against," Zaric stressed. "The fact is that over the years, they've finished better than us in the final standings."
Schopp Believes in Victory in Vorarlberg
Indeed, Hartberg's start to the season with three defeats (goal difference 0:5) can be described as unsuccessful – although their opponents, Salzburg, Sturm, and Austria, were certainly tough. All the more reason why the Styrians are now under pressure to at least get on the scoreboard against Altach.
At least the record is promising: Hartberg has won more often against no other team in the league, they are unbeaten against the Vorarlberg team for ten games, and their last five away games also ended without defeat.
Coach Markus Schopp believes in full success: "The goal must be to put our game on the pitch for 90 minutes. If we succeed in that, we will drive home from Vorarlberg with three points."
