Gernot Trauner backs LASK to spring a surprise against Sporting

Gernot Trauner knows how to beat Sporting Lisbon.

Between October 2019 and October 2020, the 34-year-old faced the top Portuguese club with LASK three times. First twice in the UEFA Europa League group stage, then in the Europa League qualifying playoff, which was decided in a single match due to COVID-19 at the time.

How LASK managed to surprise back then

"We played against them three times, we should have won all three games. We lost the first one, partly due to a goal from Bruno Fernandes. The other two times we beat them quite clearly and were simply extremely good in the game," Trauner recalls in the 90minuten interview.

The former ÖFB national player elaborates: "Sporting suited us extremely well back then because they couldn't cope with our intense pressing. It overwhelmed them at the time, which is why we always looked good against them."

After a tough 1:2 away loss in Lisbon, LASK beat the "Leões" 3:0 in the final group match at the old Gugl, securing group victory. The following October, LASK swept the Lisbon side 4:1 out of their own stadium, sending Sporting out of international competition prematurely.

Trauner expects an "evenly matched game"

This Wednesday, Sporting and LASK will meet again on the third matchday of the UEFA Champions League (from 9 PM in the LIVE ticker>>>).

How high does Trauner rate the chances for another black-and-white surprise? "Quite good, actually. I believe they definitely have a chance." He anticipates "an evenly matched game."

Sporting is a team "that has individual quality. They want to play football and have the ball at their feet. If you give them space, they will have the quality to exploit that," warns the former central defender.

Read the full interview with Gernot Trauner about his life after his active career on 90minuten >>>