LASK vs Slovan Bratislava Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Austrian outfit LASK continue an enterprising start to their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign with a clash against Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
LASK preview: Enterprising LASK
Having pulled off a miraculous turnaround to defeat Celtic in the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League back in August, LASK have gone on to entertain in this league phase while also being competitive, too, rather than just a fun watch for the neutral.
Having been edged out by AEK Athens in their opener, they then suffered a fun 6-3 loss to six-time European champions Liverpool before a dramatic and entertaining victory in Lisbon, winning by three goals to two against Sporting CP at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Slovan Bratislava preview: Struggling Slovan
Yaya Toure is in the dugout for Slovan Bratislava but the star name energy of the former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder has not brought about any magic on the pitch for a Slovan side again looking out of their depth at this level.
After finishing 35th with eight defeats from eight and 27 goals conceded during the 2024-25 league phase, Slovan have started this season’s league phase with three defeats from three in which they have conceded 13 goals thus far.
LASK team news: Usor available
Heroic against Celtic, Moses Usor was unavailable for a couple of weeks in October but he has returned to full fitness, albeit the hosts remain without American wing-back George Bello.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Jungwirth; Mbuyama, Alemao, Andrade; Jorgensen, Danek, Ljubicic, Horvath, Dibango; Kalajdzic, Lang
Unavailable: Bello (Injured), Harakate (Injured)
Questionable:
Slovan Bratislava team news: Sporar available
Former Middlesbrough striker and key man up-front Andraz Sporar has returned from illness for the visitors but they are now without fellow forward Roman Cerepkai due to a back injury.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Takac; Blackman, Bajric, Markovic, Cruz; Gajdos, Pokorny, Ibrahim; Barseghyan, Marcelli, Camara
Unavailable: Cerepkai (Injured)
Questionable:
LASK vs Slovan Bratislava prediction
Slovan Bratislava’s most recent outing in this competition saw them hammered 4-0 by Roma at Stadio Olimpico after they had been hammered by both Paris Saint-Germain and Stuttgart. At first glance, this would appear a more even contest for Slovan to compete in but LASK have to be viewed as the firm favourites given their punchy form and with home advantage at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz.
LASK vs Slovan Bratislava Tip: LASK to win
