In this week 14 match, on Tue Jan 26th, Sturm Graz will host Hartberg in a clash of the Tipico Bundesliga. 3rd placed Sturm Graz is fresh off their 1-4 loss against Rapid Wien. Ercan Kara struck first for Rapid Wien in the 7th minute on a feed from Marcel Ritzmaier, but Jakob Jantscher got the equalizer for Sturm Graz in the 31st minute. Sturm Graz looks to continue their winning ways, having won 7 of their last 10, while 8th placed Hartberg is fresh off their 1-0 shutout win against Rheindorf Altach. Rajko Rep struck first for Hartberg in the 84th minute, and with that single goal the scoring was complete. Neither team could manage anything else In the end, Rheindorf Altach couldn’t muster any offence and Hartberg ran away with the shutout win. Hartberg is looking for direction having 3 win and 3 losses in their last 10 matches.
Hartberg and Sturm Graz last played eachother at the Profertil Arena on Sep 27th. Hartberg and Sturm Graz battled to a 1-1 draw. Ivan Ljubić struck first for Sturm Graz in the 31st minute, then Dario Tadić tied it up for Hartberg in the 3rd minute of the second half’s stoppage time earning Hartberg a comeback draw.
Hartberg’s most prolific scorer has been Thomas Rotter. He has netted three goals over the last five matches. Both Otar Kiteishvili and Bekim Balaj have been the hottest scorers for Sturm Graz in the last five each having scored 2 goals each.