GRAZ, Austria (Interstat) — Grazer AK is heavily favored to extend its unbeaten run at home when it hosts SC Horn in a 2. Liga matchup Saturday at Merkur Arena.

The Week 8 contest pits a GAK side riding momentum from a strong result against a first-division opponent against a Horn team seeking consistency on the road.

Grazer AK (0-0-0) last played on Sept. 21, 2025, securing a notable 1-1 draw against Austrian Bundesliga side Rapid Vienna in a cup fixture. That performance against top-flight opposition has bolstered confidence within the squad ahead of the league restart.

Horn (0-0-0) enters with mixed recent form in league play. Its most recent match was a 2-1 away loss to Dornbirn on Feb. 14. Earlier results include a 1-1 draw at Draßburg on Jan. 24 and a more impressive 2-0 victory at Austria Klagenfurt last July.

Statistical models project a favorable outcome for the hosts. The Interstat game simulator predicts a 2-1 victory for Grazer AK. Furthermore, the organization’s ELO rating system calculates Grazer AK with a 77.5% probability of winning the match.

The setting at Merkur Arena, a UEFA-category stadium more commonly associated with top-division football, provides a significant home-pitch advantage for Grazer AK. The club will look to leverage that atmosphere to pressure Horn early.

Key for Horn will be shoring up a defense that conceded twice in its last outing and finding the offensive rhythm that delivered a clean-sheet win at Klagenfurt. Grazer AK will aim to control possession and translate its projected superiority into scoring chances.

A win for Grazer AK would provide an ideal start to the second phase of the 2. Liga season and solidify its position in the upper tier of the table. For Horn, securing points on the road against a favored opponent would mark a statement result and reverse its recent away form.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. local time (1430 GMT) Saturday.