Hertha Wels vs LASK on 27 June
The upcoming friendly between Hertha Wels and LASK on the 27th of June offers a classic David versus Goliath storyline, even in a pre-season context. This is a meeting of two clubs operating in completely different tiers of Austrian football. Hertha Wels, competing in the second division, will welcome the newly crowned Bundesliga champions to their intimate HUBER Arena in Wels. The stadium is expected to be full as the home side relishes the chance to measure itself against the nation’s best. For Wels, this fixture is a centrepiece of their pre-season schedule and a golden opportunity for players to catch the eye against elite opposition. For LASK, the match serves as a crucial test in their build-up to a Champions League campaign, giving the coaching staff a chance to evaluate fitness and tactical cohesion against a motivated opponent. Weather forecasts for Wels point to a warm, clear summer evening, ideal conditions for a fast-paced and entertaining contest.
Hertha Wels: Form and Analysis
Hertha Wels head into this fixture with a patchy run of results, though they have shown they can find the net regularly. Across their last five matches in all competitions, they have collected three wins and two defeats, underlining a certain lack of consistency. Their most recent competitive outing ended in a narrow 1-0 loss away to SKN St. Pölten in the 2. Liga, a result that will have stung given the tight margin. Still, they have responded well to setbacks before, bouncing back with a composed 2-0 home victory over Sturm Graz II. That pattern suggests a side that may lack the composure of a top team but possesses enough spirit and attacking threat to trouble opponents, particularly when playing in front of their own supporters.
Looking at the statistical footprint left by their 2. Liga campaign offers a sharper view of their profile. Over 29 matches, Hertha Wels gathered 33 points, finishing 10th with 9 wins, 6 draws, and 14 losses. Their goal difference sat at a marginal –1, with 36 goals scored and 37 conceded, pointing to a balanced but middling outfit. Much of their offensive danger flows through forwards like Albin Gashi and Marek Svec, who lead the line with energy and directness. The team tends to play a straightforward game, moving the ball forward quickly and generating chances through relentless work in the final third. The squad blends seasoned campaigners such as Andreas Radics with emerging talents, and with no major injury concerns reported, the hosts can field a full-strength side eager to impress against top-tier opposition.
LASK: Form and Analysis
LASK arrive in Wels riding a wave of success that could hardly be more different from their opponents’ recent struggles. They stand as the undisputed kings of Austrian football, having captured the Bundesliga title in commanding fashion. Their form has been relentless: five straight wins in their last five outings, a streak that underlines both quality and an unshakeable winning mentality. They closed their league campaign with a resounding 3-0 victory away to Austria Wien, a performance that captured the essence of their season. Confidence within the squad is at an all-time high as they turn attention to European competition. A warm-up friendly before this clash shows their commitment to sharpening match fitness, and they will be expected to impose themselves from the opening whistle.
The numbers behind LASK’s title triumph paint a picture of all-round excellence. They topped the Austrian Bundesliga table with 58 points from 32 games, registering 17 wins, 7 draws, and 8 defeats. Their attacking output stood at 56 goals, an average of 1.75 per game, while their defence conceded just 42. Moses Usor led the scoring charts with 13 goals, ably supported by Samuel Adeniran and Sasa Kalajdzic, who chipped in with 10 and 6 respectively. In midfield, Sascha Horvath provided the composure and vision to dictate tempo and control possession. Head coach Dietmar Kühbauer has built a squad capable of pressing high, dominating the ball, and unpicking even stubborn defences. Even with rotation expected in a friendly, the depth at LASK’s disposal ensures they will field a highly competitive eleven.
Head-to-Head History
The historical record between these two clubs highlights the stark divide in their respective standings. They have met only a handful of times in recent years, and the results have been overwhelmingly one-sided. Official records show three encounters, with Hertha Wels yet to claim a victory. LASK have won two of those, with the other ending in a draw. The most recent meeting, a friendly on the 5th of July 2025, finished 1–1, a result that Wels would have cherished given the gulf in class. Before that, a clash in 2018 saw LASK cruise to a convincing 3–0 win away from home. The historical weight is firmly on the champions’ side, and even the one recent draw offers only a sliver of comfort for the hosts.
Deeper archival data from the Oberösterreich Liga in the late 1940s only reinforces this pattern, with LASK recording heavy victories such as 6–1 and 7–1. Those matches belong to a different era and bear little relevance to the current squads, but they underscore a long-standing hierarchy. For the upcoming fixture, the psychological edge rests entirely with LASK, given their recent dominance and status as reigning champions. Hertha Wels will be desperate to break that run, but the evidence on paper suggests a monumental task. The recent draw may offer a faint glimmer of hope, but it is unlikely to unsettle a confident LASK side accustomed to winning.
Match Prediction
This fixture pits two sides on vastly different trajectories against each other. Hertha Wels, a mid-table second-division team, will lean on their direct style, home support, and the energy of players like Albin Gashi to unsettle their illustrious visitors. They are likely to set up compactly, aiming to frustrate LASK and strike on the counter whenever gaps appear. Their chances rest on discipline at the back and clinical finishing in rare attacking moments. LASK, by contrast, possess a wealth of quality and tactical intelligence across every line. With Usor, Adeniran, and Kalajdzic leading the attack, they have multiple routes to goal, whether through intricate passing combinations or sheer physical presence. Their approach will centre on dominating possession, pressing high, and generating a steady stream of chances. The friendly setting may encourage a more open contest, with substitutions and tactical experiments possibly increasing the goal count. A convincing victory for LASK appears the most probable outcome, but Hertha Wels will be determined to make their mark. A scoreline of 4–1 in favour of the champions seems realistic, while a 3–1 result also remains well within reach. Expect an energetic affair with both teams likely to find the net.
Final View
In essence, this pre-season friendly presents a mismatch on paper, yet one rich with intrigue. LASK, the Austrian champions with a flawless recent record and a squad full of firepower, travel to a Wels side that battled to a respectable but unspectacular finish in the second tier. The decisive factors are the evident gap in quality, the champions’ overwhelming momentum, and the defensive vulnerabilities that Hertha Wels have shown throughout their season. While the hosts will be driven by pride and the chance to perform against the best, the visitors possess too much attacking threat and tactical nous to be contained for 90 minutes. The result is likely to reflect that superiority, with LASK extending their winning habit and taking another step forward in their preparations for a demanding season ahead.
