Slovan bottom of the Champions League — will LASK finish off the underdogs? LASK vs. Slovan prediction
On November 3, Austrian side LASK will host Bratislava club Slovan in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase. The hosts have picked up three points and broken into the top 24 after an unexpected victory over Sporting. The Slovakian club, by contrast, have lost all three of their matches and sit bottom of the table. The upcoming fixture is hugely important for both teams in the battle to keep their European campaign alive.
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LASK: four wins in five matches and a potent attack
The Austrians have gradually found their form after a disappointing start to the Champions League league phase. The team lost to AEK (0:1) and Liverpool (3:6), but then produced a shock result by beating Sporting Lisbon away from home (3:2). That victory lifted LASK into the playoff places. Overall, the hosts have won four of their last five matches in all competitions, playing attacking football even against higher-level opposition.
LASK are particularly dangerous at home, where they have averaged almost three goals per game across nine matches this season. In the Champions League qualifying rounds, the Austrians thrashed Celtic (5:1) and then scored three times against Liverpool. The main issue remains a congested schedule, which gives the coaching staff virtually no opportunity to rotate the squad properly. At the same time, there are few serious absences: the only unavailable player from the first-team group is injured defender George Bello.
Slovan: three straight defeats and an attacking crisis
Yaya Touré's team currently look like one of the Champions League's main underdogs. After three rounds, the Slovaks have no points, while their goals-for and goals-against record stands at 1:13. Slovan suffered heavy defeats to PSG (1:6), Stuttgart (0:3) and Roma (0:4). The lack of dangerous chances is particularly concerning: the team have failed to score in either of their last two European fixtures. Their domestic results have improved somewhat, but two wins and a draw are still not enough to suggest they have fully emerged from the crisis.
Limited squad depth creates further difficulties. Touré rarely makes wholesale changes, forcing his key players to regularly play virtually full matches. Forward Mykola Kukharevych remains among the injured players. However, the visitors' main problem lies not so much in personnel losses as in the quality of their performances. Slovan allow opponents to create chances far too easily, while their own attack exerts virtually no pressure on the opposition's defence.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- LASK have won four of their last five matches in all competitions
- Slovan have lost all three matches in the Champions League league phase, with an overall goal difference of 1:13
- Both teams have scored in eight of LASK's last ten matches in all competitions
Can Slovan avoid a fourth defeat: LASK vs. Slovan prediction
LASK come into this match in significantly better form. The Austrians have already shown they can beat strong opponents, while their home scoring record makes them especially dangerous against a side with defensive problems.
Slovan may be able to capitalise on individual mistakes by the hosts and end their scoreless run, but a fully competitive contest will be difficult to achieve. The Austrian club should control the match and create enough chances to secure a convincing victory.
