The 2025-26 Austrian Bundesliga league season kicks off with a thrilling encounter between two-time defending champions Sturm Graz and LASK Linz. Ayomide Oguntimehin provides a detailed preview and prediction of the August 1st clash.
LASK vs Sturm Graz Match Preview
After an impressive 2023-24 season where they finished third in the league and qualified for the UEFA Conference League, LASK endured disappointment in the 2024-25 season as they ended the campaign in seventh place. The Black-Whites also suffered the longest losing run in the league (5) and suffered the biggest home defeat in the campaign, losing 5-1 to Wolfsberger at the Raiffeisen Arena. In the UEFA Conference League, they finished the new 36-team format in 35th position, ending their campaign without a victory. LASK face a tough opening day test against the defending champions, as they look to improve on last season’s league finish.
Sturm Graz, meanwhile, ended Red Bull Salzburg’s 10-year stronghold on the league in the 2023-24 season with a first league title in 13 years. They made it consecutive title wins in the 2024-25 campaign, securing the title with a two-point gap over Salzburg. The Blacks also recorded the biggest home win in the season, a 7-0 win over Austria Klagenfurt last November. In the UEFA Champions League, they ended their campaign in 30th-place, with impressive wins over Girona and Red Bull Leipzig. They will be eager to begin their campaign on a high note against LASK, as they pursue a historic three-peat in the league.
LASK vs Sturm Graz Head to Head Record (Last Five Meetings)
- 16.03.2025 – Sturm Graz 4-2 LASK
- 27.10.2024 – LASK 1-2 Sturm Graz
- 12.05.2024 – LASK 2-2 Sturm Graz
- 07.04.2024 – Sturm Graz 1-0 LASK
- 05.11.2023 – LASK 3-1 Sturm Graz
Sturm Graz have held the upper hand in recent meetings, winning three of the last five between both sides. They are unbeaten in their past two visits to the Raiffeisen Arena, while they have also scored in their last six visits.
Recent Form: LASK
LASK have recorded decent results in recent outings, with four wins, two defeats and one draw in the past seven matches. However, they have shown weaknesses in defense, conceding in six of these matches.
In their last outing, the Black-Whites recorded a convincing 4-0 win away at Wiener Sport-Club in the Austrian Cup first round.
Recent Form: Sturm Graz
The Blacks are on an eight-game unbeaten run stretching back to the final game of the previous campaign. They have also recorded wins in their last two away matches and have kept three clean sheets in the last four matches.
Sturm Graz thrashed Bischofshofen 4-0 in their last outing, in the first round of the Austrian Cup.
Player to Watch: Moses Usor (LASK)
The Nigerian winger Moses Usor returned to top form after missing majority of last season with a cruciate ligament tear, with a player of the match performance in the 4-0 win over Wiener-Sport. The 23-year-old’s pace and skills could prove crucial if LASK are to begin their league campaign with a win over Sturm Graz.
Best Betting Odds
- Away (Sturm Graz) to Win or Draw – 1.37 (via1xBet)
Prediction
Sturm Graz superior form and quality gives them the edge over LASK and they should be able to secure a decent result in the opening day clash.
