ÖFB-Cup draw: Title holder LASK faces Deutschlandsberg in the round of 16

In the matchup between Rapid Wien and SKN St. Pölten, two professional clubs from the Lower Austrian-Vienna area face off. Rapid, one of the record winners of the competition, goes into the game as favorites. St. Pölten, currently active in the second-highest division, will look to sell itself dearly as the underdog. The draw turns this fixture into a classic league duel in cup format.

Top clubs face each other

Sturm Graz faces Austria Klagenfurt. Here too, two professional clubs that know each other from the Bundesliga go head-to-head. For the Graz side, the draw is manageable, but Klagenfurt will try to counter the opponent's favorite role. The fixture also offers a tactical reunion with both squads at Bundesliga level.

The cup has its own rules, and that is precisely what the draw shows. While the Bundesliga clubs are usually clear favorites, away games at lower-division clubs have been a stumbling block for the big teams for years. LASK will have to deal with the difficult mix of pressure of expectations and underdog mentality in Deutschlandsberg.

Second-division clubs as cup hopefuls

The remaining fixtures also produce a series of intriguing second-division matchups: Kitzbühel hosts GAK, Bischofshofen faces Altach, Leithaprodersdorf plays against Tirol, Lafnitz against Lustenau, and FAC Wien against Bregenz. In addition, there is the fixture Austria Salzburg against Vienna. This completes the field and fully schedules the second round.

For the second-division clubs, the cup second round is often the last realistic chance for a bigger run. In the past, lower-division teams have already put the top clubs under pressure. The draw therefore provides a stage not only for the Bundesliga clubs but especially for the smaller ones.

The schedule provides for the second round to be played in the near term. The LASK officials will see no reason to publicly downplay their favorite role ahead of the away game in Deutschlandsberg. Nevertheless, the history of the competition urges caution. Being the title holder also means dealing with the burden of expectations.

Overall, the draw shows a mix of clear duels and potential stumbling blocks. The Bundesliga clubs go into their games united as favorites, but the ÖFB-Cup lives off its surprises. With LASK in Deutschlandsberg, one fixture takes center stage that exemplifies the logic of the competition.

The competition also bears the signature of its history: for decades, lower-division clubs have repeatedly made headlines. This year too, the results of the second round could help shape the direction of the entire tournament. The tension before the first kickoffs is correspondingly high.