If you take a look at the Bundesliga table, there is definitely reason to be happy from Wolfsberg’s point of view. The Wolves are one point behind Rapid Vienna and two points behind the reigning Bundesliga champions Sturm Graz, who have just returned from their Champions League opener in Brest (2:1 defeat). The Wolves want to start there now and make life difficult for the Graz team in their home ground. Against the league leaders, Kühbauer’s eleven will have to put in a good performance in all respects on the Graz pitch on Sunday (2:30 p.m.). “The reigning champions are always a Herculean task. We have to be strong in defense and distribute the ball well in offense,” says WAC coach Didi Kühbauer.
Newcomers impress
Defensive all-rounder Chibuike Nwaiwu is expected to play a major role. The 21-year-old came to Lavanttal from FC Enyimba Aba in his Nigerian homeland and will most likely be in the starting eleven against SK Sturm Graz. Omic is injured in the defensive midfield in the number six position. Kühbauer: “Chipi (Chibuike Nwaiwu) is definitely an option against Sturm.” Another newcomer is getting better with each training session. Markus Pink has recently become increasingly recommended for a permanent place in the Wolfsberg starting eleven. Pink: “Sturm plays very intensively with high pressing and aggressiveness in the duels. We want to play with the same intensity as in the second half against SK Rapid and then something is surely possible for us in Graz.”
Heavy but beautiful
Kühbauer expects a difficult game, but he sees it as a good indicator. “It will be a difficult but also a nice challenge for the boys,” says the WAC coach. So in round seven of the Bundesliga, the Pack Derby is a football treat for football fans from Carinthia and Styria. The second Carinthian Bundesliga club will be fighting for the next three points on Saturday (5 p.m.). TSV Hartberg will be visiting Austria Klagenfurt in the Wörthersee Stadium. The derby between SK Rapid Wien and FK Austria Wien will also take place in Vienna on Sunday.
