LASK Linz vs Grazer AK Prediction 31.07.2026 | Austria Bundesliga
LASK Linz
Kick off:
Date:
Grazer AK
1
1.66
X
3.84
2
4.89
Contents
- Competition: Austria - Bundesliga
- Date: Friday, 31st, July 2026
- Kickoff: 18:30 UK / 19:30 CEST
- Venue: Raiffeisen Arena (Linz)
Reigning Austrian champions LASK Linz will launch the defense of their historic league crown on Friday evening, welcoming Grazer AK to the Raiffeisen Arena for the opening match of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Black-and-Whites will be eager to begin their title defense with all three points and reaffirm their dominance in Austrian football, while the experienced visitors from Graz aim to spring an early surprise in their third consecutive top-flight season.
LASK Linz vs Grazer AK Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Grazer AK
1 : 2
LASK Linz
Admiral Bundesliga
-
LASK Linz
1 : 0
Grazer AK
Admiral Bundesliga
-
Grazer AK
1 : 0
LASK Linz
Admiral Bundesliga
-
LASK Linz
1 : 0
Grazer AK
Admiral Bundesliga
-
Grazer AK
0 : 0
LASK Linz
Admiral Bundesliga
-
LASK Linz
4 : 2
Grazer AK
Admiral Bundesliga
The two clubs have locked horns an incredible 130 times throughout their history, with LASK holding the slightest of advantages after recording 48 victories, just one more than Grazer's 47, while the remaining 35 encounters ended all square.
LASK Linz team overview
Last season will forever be remembered as one of the greatest in LASK's history, as the Linz-based outfit ended the long-standing dominance of Sturm Graz and Red Bull Salzburg to lift only the second Austrian Bundesliga title in the club's history, and their first since 1965.
Despite producing mixed results during pre-season, Die Laskler made an emphatic start to the 2026-27 campaign by dismantling Kalsdorf 7-0 in the opening round of the OFB Cup, sending out an early statement ahead of their Bundesliga curtain-raiser.
LASK's remarkable home form proved to be the cornerstone of last season's title triumph, with the champions finishing 10 points clear of nearest challengers Sturm Graz in the home standings. Having turned their own ground into a fortress, Kuhbauer's side will be confident of carrying that momentum into Friday's league opener.
Head coach Dietmar Kuhbauer has an almost fully-fit squad at his disposal, with defensive midfielder Art Smakaj and forward Ramiz Harakate the only notable absentees as both continue their recovery from long-term anterior cruciate ligament injuries.
Last matches of LASK Linz
-
Kalsdorf
0 : 7
LASK Linz
Austrian Cup
-
LASK Linz
2 : 0
Fortuna Dusseldorf
Club Friendlies 3
-
LASK Linz
1 : 2
Fenerbahce
Club Friendlies 1
-
Ingolstadt
2 : 0
LASK Linz
Club Friendlies 3
-
LASK Linz
0 : 2
Dynamo Kyiv
Club Friendlies 3
LASK Linz lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Lukas Jungwirth
Defenders
-
2
George Bello
-
16
Andrés Andrade
-
21
Manoël Verhaeghe
-
4
Xavier Mbuyamba
-
20
Kasper Jørgensen
Midfielders
-
30
Sascha Horvath
-
6
Melayro Bogarde
-
9
Krystof Danek
Forwards
-
7
Samuel Adeniran
-
8
Moses Usor
Grazer AK team overview
Having secured promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga for the 2023-24 season, Grazer AK have adapted impressively to life in the top flight, steering comfortably clear of the relegation battle in their debut campaign before narrowly missing out on a European place last term.
However, their preparations for the 2026-27 Bundesliga season have been far from convincing, as they managed just one victory from five pre-season friendlies while suffering three defeats, including a humbling 5-0 loss to Dynamo Dresden in their final warm-up fixture.
On a brighter note, Die Roten head into Friday's contest in confident spirits after cruising into the second round of the Austrian Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over third-tier outfit Donaufeld Wien, underlining the gulf in class between the two sides.
Unlike their upcoming opponents, head coach Ferdinand Feldhofer has several selection concerns to contend with, as Tobias Koch, Tim Trummer and Jacob Italiano are all unavailable. As a result, summer signing Anderson is expected to slot into the back four.
Last matches of Grazer AK
-
Donaufeld
0 : 4
Grazer AK
Austrian Cup
-
Grazer AK
0 : 5
Dynamo Dresden
Club Friendlies 3
-
Grazer AK
1 : 0
Kapfenberger SV
Club Friendlies 3
-
Grazer AK
2 : 4
First Vienna
Club Friendlies 3
-
Grazer AK
0 : 1
Slovan Bratislava
Club Friendlies 3
Grazer AK lineup
Goalkeeper
-
23
Cican Stankovic
Defenders
-
3
Ludwig Vraa
-
2
Donovan Pines
-
82
Beres Owusu
Midfielders
-
6
Liam Hermesh
-
32
Leon Klassen
-
10
Christian Lichtenberger
-
34
Peter Michorl
-
28
Anderson
Forwards
-
9
Daniel Maderner
-
25
Alexander Hofleitner
Prediction
Although opening fixtures often come with a degree of caution, LASK possess the quality, depth, and winning mentality to make a strong start to their title defence. Grazer AK have shown enough resilience to establish themselves as a competitive top-flight side and could trouble the hosts on the counterattack, but we believe LASK's attacking firepower at the Raiffeisen Arena will ultimately prove decisive. We are backing the champions to begin the new campaign with a convincing victory in an entertaining contest.
Four Reasons we expect LASK Linz to Win
- LASK have put together six consecutive victories in all competitions.
- LASK have scored at least two goals in four of their last five competitive home matches.
- Grazer have suffered five defeats in their last nine away matches.
- LASK have beaten Grazer in each of their last three home meetings.
Main prediction LASK Linz - Grazer AK
LASK Linz to win
Best Odds:
Melbet
1.66
LASK Linz vs Grazer AK standings in Admiral Bundesliga
| Regular Season | P | W | D | L |
G - A
|
GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ried | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Austria Lustenau | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | SK Rapid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Rheindorf Altach | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | WSG Tirol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Grazer AK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Salzburg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | LASK Linz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Sturm Graz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Wolfsberger AC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Austria Wien | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Hartberg | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 0 | 0 |