Lask Linz vs TSV Hartberg Prediction

Alright, pull up a stool and get the crisps open – we've got Friday night footy from Austria coming your way. Lask Linz host TSV Hartberg in what looks a cracker on paper, and I'm seeing goals at both ends as the way to go.

Lask are sitting pretty in third, level on points with the big boys from Salzburg. At home, they're absolutely flying – winning over 71% of their last seven and averaging 2.29 goals per game. They just put three past Wolfsberger last weekend in a 3-1 win. But here's the thing: their backline has more holes than a dartboard. They shipped five against Salzburg a few weeks back (1-5), conceded two against Austria Vienna (2-2), and have let in 1.5 goals per game across their last ten. Both teams have scored in 80% of their recent matches – that's eight out of ten!

Now, Hartberg are the draw merchants of the division with nine stalemates in 22 games, but don't let that fool you – they're unbeaten in their last ten (six wins, four draws). They just went to Salzburg and came away with a 0-0, which takes some doing. Their defence is proper solid – only five goals conceded in ten games, five clean sheets, and just 0.75 shipped per game on the road. They're harder to break down than a safe.

The head-to-head makes interesting reading too. Lask have never lost to Hartberg in eight meetings, but the last two have been belters – 2-2 and 3-3 draws. Both teams found the net in five of the eight overall.

With Lask's attack firing at home but their defence all over the shop, and Hartberg's organised but not impregnable backline, I'm expecting both keepers to be picking the ball out of the net.

Key Points:

• Lask Linz have scored in 80% of their last 10 games but kept only 20% clean sheets

• TSV Hartberg are unbeaten in 10 matches with 50% clean sheets and just 0.50 goals conceded per game

• The last two head-to-head meetings finished 2-2 and 3-3

• Lask average 2.29 goals per game at home but concede 1.57

• Hartberg's away defence is tight (0.75 conceded) but they score 1.25 per game on the road

Summary: The 1.75 on Both Teams To Score looks a touch generous to me. Lask's games are open affairs, Hartberg can nick a goal against anyone, and the recent history backs it up. Have a nibble at BTTS Yes.