Hartberg

Last Match Paid

Bundesliga

Round 32

St. Polten 0 - 1 Hartberg

2021-05-21 18:00 More Reports

Next Match Paid

Bundesliga

Round EL Play-Off 1/2 Final

Hartbergvs. Austria Vienna

2021-05-24 16:00 More Previews

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Season Guide

2020/2021

Hartberg

In

Manfred Gollner (def) (Wolsfberger AC), Philipp Sturm (mid) (Chemnitzer FC), Alexander Burgstaller (def) (Rapid Wien II), Julius Ertlthaler (mid) (SV Mattersburg), Stefan Goles (def) (Wolsfberger AC), Borna Petrovic (att) (Dinamo Zagreb), Felix Luckeneder (def) (LASK), Samson Tijani (mid) (RB Salzburg), Hamidou Maiga (def), Maximilian Pußwald (gk) (Harberg II), Manuel Pfeifer (def) (SV Allerheiligen)

Out

Sandro Gotal (sp) (att) (released), Manuel Pfeifer (def) (Lafntiz II), Christoph Kropfl (sp) (def) (SV Lafnitz), Siegfried Rasswalder (sp) (def) (ESV Knittelfeld), Peter Tschernegg (sp) (mid) (Grazer AK 1902), Jodel Dossou (r) (mid) (Clermont Foot), Marcel Schantl (def) (Blau Weiss Linz), David Cancola (r) (mid) (released), Tomas Ostrak (mid) (MFK Karvina), Amadou Dante (sp) (mid) (Sturm Graz)

Widely expected to suffer from the second season syndrome after their struggles in the second half of the 2018/19 campaign, Hartberg made a mockery of such predictions by finishing fifth and qualifying for Europe via the play-offs. A rather small club, they have performed admirably since winning promotion to the top flight a couple of years ago and the big positive for them going into the new campaign is that they managed to keep hold of both of their highly-rated boss Markus Schopp and striker Dario Tadic, who had a superb campaign last time around. In fact, the sole two players of any importance to have left are Jodel Dossou, who will continue his career in France, and David Cancola, who could not agree a contract extension. The other players to have left hardly featured last season, either due to their manager's choice or due to injury issues. On the other side, several interesting signings have been made in Julius Ertlthaler, Manfred Gollner and Stefan Goles, while Felix Luckender has had his deal made permanent after spending the previous season on loan with the club. Hartberg can only stay up for years if they are well run and follow a model based on stability and this is something that they have definitely done well so far. They have not changed much over the summer and will be hoping for another successful season.

Target

Despite qualifying for Europe last time around, Hartberg will be pleased as long as they manage to keep themselves comfortably away from danger.

Season Review

2020/2021

№7: Hartberg

Hartberg had both disappointing ends to the regular season and to the play-offs, with the Blues playing decent football but ending up missing out on Europe. Tough financial situation due to COVID meant that the main summer signings made were free agents and young players only on loan from top clubs. Also Hartberg were badly affected by 2 COVID outbreaks in their ranks early in the season and this led to only 2 wins achieved in the first 11 rounds (D5 L4). However, the amount of draws registered was enough to keep the Blues well above the struggling sides. Tadic struggled for form all season and he was major disappointment in attack. However, smart moves in the winter saw Horvat and Flecker joining the squad to become very important players in the second half of the campaign. Hartberg moved into the top 6 after 4 wins in late February and March, with the Blues knowing that home win over St. Polten in the last round of the regular season guarantees them Play-off I football. However, goal conceded deep in stoppage time saw this game ending 3:3 and Hartberg had to settle for the second play-off group. There they remained unbeaten at home (W3 D2) and this was enough to see them top Play-off II and host Austria Vienna for the final showdown before the Europa League play-off against Wolfsberger. Unfortunately in this vital match Hartberg played arguably their worst football and 0:3 loss ended their season in disappointment. Coach Schopp is unlikely to receive much more money for transfers this summer, especially after Hartberg missed out on Europe, so he will again have to be creative and look at some free agents and youngsters.