Preview

 

Sports Mole previews Monday's pre-season friendly between Austria Klagenfurt and Southampton, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Southampton will continue their pre-season preparations on Monday against an Austria Klagenfurt side already in the swing of their domestic season.

The Saints lost 3-1 to RB Leipzig last time out, while the hosts enter the friendly having put eight past Admira Dornbirn in an Austrian Cup drubbing.

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Match preview

Despite failing to win either of their pre-season friendlies before the commencement of the 2022-23 Austrian Cup - losing 4-1 to Osijek before a goalless draw with Hansa Rostock - Klagenfurt were in a merciless mood against fourth-tier side Admira Dornbirn in round one.

Eight goals from seven different goalscorers saw the Austria Bundesliga side storm to an 8-1 win over their lower-league counterparts on Friday evening, and another season of promise awaits Peter Pacult's side in the top flight.

After earning promotion from the 2. Liga in 2021, Klagenfurt finished the 2021-22 regular season in sixth place and advanced to the Championship Group, but they were unable to increase their standing and just missed out on a place in the Europa Conference League.

Nevertheless, 62-year-old Pacult has overseen quite the success story with Klagenfurt over the past 12 months, and their Austrian Bundesliga season kicks off away to LASK next week, so a positive result against the Saints would set the hosts well on their way to another potential European charge next term.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's inside knowledge of RB Leipzig is surely second to none, but the Saints boss was unable to inspire his side to a morale-boosting win over the Bundesliga powerhouses during their opening pre-season test on Saturday.

Off the back of a disappointing debut season in red and white, Adam Armstrong managed to cancel out an opener from former Manchester City left-back Angelino, but Emil Forsberg and Ilaix Moriba netted later in the second half to secure the win for Domenico Tedesco's side.

Of course, Hasenhuttl was not averse to a multitude of alterations throughout the contest, during which no fewer than five summer signings pulled on the shirt, and one of them - goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu - certainly caught the eye.

Following the conclusion of the Saints' training camp in Austria, Hasenhuttl's men will take a trip to Watford on July 23 before two European heavyweights in Monaco and Villarreal make the journey to St Mary's later in the month.

The Saints' 2021-22 season offered so much promise before the South coast side ultimately succumbed to a 15th-placed finish, but with a quintet of new signings in tow, the foundations are there to push on for a top-half place this time around.

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Team News

Klagenfurt did not sustain any fresh injury problems in the thrashing of Dornbirn, and Pacult may hold off on making numerous alterations so as not to disrupt the harmony in his side's lineup.

However, there was no place for Scotland's Andy Irving in the squad after his recent arrival on a free transfer, as Christopher Cvetko hit a brace from the middle of the park on Friday.

Florian Rieder, Sinan Karweina and Jonas Arweiler have all given Pacult food for thought after scoring as substitutes in that 8-1 Austrian Cup victory.

As for Southampton, Hasenhuttl has no fresh injury concerns to report from the friendly loss to Leipzig, although right-back Valentino Livramento is still on the long road back from knee surgery.

Armstrong in particular will hope that his strike on Saturday is a sign of better things to come, as there has been talk of the striker potentially dropping back down to a Championship club on loan for 2022-23.

Bazunu, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Joe Aribo and Romeo Lavia all started in the 3-1 loss to Leipzig, but Hasenhuttl should ponder some changes to his starting lineup given the 48-hour turnaround.

Austria Klagenfurt possible starting lineup:
Knaller; Wimmer, Gezos, Mahrer; Straudi, Cvetko, Moreira, Rieder; Wernitznig, Pink, Jaritz

Southampton possible starting lineup:
Lis; Valery, Stephens, Lyanco, Walker-Peters; S. Armstrong, Lavia, Romeu, Elyounoussi; A. Armstrong, Adams

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We say: Austria Klagenfurt 1-2 Southampton

Klagenfurt certainly know where the back of the net is, and with the hosts now fully encompassed in their domestic season, a much-changed Southampton side can expect a tough afternoon.

It is clear who the fresher of the two sides will be on Monday, but Southampton have plenty of options for change and can edge a close contest with a Klagenfurt side who are still on the rise.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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