ST. POLTEN, Austria (Interstat) — St. Polten hosts Wels on Thursday, May 14, in a 2. Liga clash that could be pivotal for both sides as the Austrian second-division season enters its final stretch.

The matchup at NV Arena pits a St. Polten side coming off a convincing 3-0 win at Kapfenberger SV on May 8 against a Wels team that earned a 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz the same day. The two teams last met Nov. 28, 2025, when they played to a 1-1 draw in Wels.

St. Polten (10-8-10, 38 points) has shown defensive resilience recently, posting three straight clean sheets before a 1-0 loss to Rubin Kazan in a friendly on May 5. A scoreless draw with FC Flyeralarm Admira on May 2 and a 0-0 result at Floridsdorfer on April 24 preceded the shutout win over Kapfenberger. However, the club endured a rough patch in April, including a 3-0 loss at Austria Lustenau on April 10, before rebounding with a 2-0 victory at Aust Klagenfurt on April 6.

Wels (11-6-11, 39 points) enters with momentum after dispatching Sturm Graz. The victory followed a 1-0 loss at First Vienna on May 2 and a 3-2 win at S-W Bregenz on April 24. Wels has been potent offensively in recent weeks, scoring four goals in a win at Rapid Wien II on April 10 and five in a victory at Liefering on March 20. But the team has also been inconsistent, with losses to Aust Klagenfurt (2-1 on April 3) and Young Violets Austria Wien (1-0 on March 7) mixed in.

In head-to-head play, the only recent meeting ended in a draw, but St. Polten holds an edge historically at home. Wels will rely on its attack, which has averaged 2.3 goals over the past six league matches, while St. Polten’s defense has allowed just one goal in its last four league outings.

The game, set for a 6:30 p.m. local kickoff, holds playoff implications in the tightly bunched 2. Liga table. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 3-1 victory for St. Polten, but Wels’ scoring depth suggests the visitors will not go quietly.