INNSBRUCK, Austria (Interstat) — Wacker will host Austria SB on Thursday in a global football match between two sides looking to improve their standing. Both sides have played seven matches this season. Wacker enters with home advantage and the stronger overall record, while Austria SB will try to recover from a narrow road defeat.

Wacker is 3-2-2 across all competitions and has scored 10 goals while conceding eight. Its most recent outing ended in a 2-2 draw at Sturm II, with Mouhamed Sy and Luis Gstrein scoring and Florian Kopp playing the full match. That result followed a 1-1 home draw against Voitsberg. Earlier this season, Wacker beat St. Polten 1-0 at home, won 1-0 at KSV 1919, lost 2-0 at Floridsdorf, lost 3-0 at BW Linz and opened with a 5-0 home win over Bregenz.

Austria SB is 3-3-1 across all competitions and has scored 14 goals while conceding 12. It lost its most recent match 2-1 at Voitsberg, with Tamar Crnkic scoring and Simon Täubl and Christian Huetz playing all 90 minutes. Before that, Austria SB drew 3-3 at home against Sturm II. Other results include a 1-0 loss at St. Polten, a 3-2 home win over KSV 1919, a 3-1 loss at Young Violets Austria Wien, a 4-1 home win over First Vienna and a 2-0 win at Wels.

Crnkic’s finish was one of Austria SB’s few bright spots in the Voitsberg defeat. Crnkic played 90 minutes and scored once. Täubl’s work in goal and Huetz’s minutes could again be important as Austria SB seeks a more complete performance. For Wacker, Sy played 60 minutes and scored once, while Gstrein played 71 minutes and scored once. Kopp anchored the defensive effort with 90 minutes. Wacker will look to use its home setting to pressure Austria SB early and limit chances for Crnkic. The visitors will need to manage Wacker’s early pressure and create chances for Crnkic in transition.

After this match, Austria SB is scheduled to face BW Linz, Amstetten, Liefering, FC Flyeralarm Admira, Bregenz, SK Rapid II, Sturm II, Liefering, Amstetten and Voitsberg. Wacker’s upcoming slate includes FC Flyeralarm Admira, Young Violets Austria Wien, Amstetten, Liefering, First Vienna, Wels, Young Violets Austria Wien, St. Polten, FC Flyeralarm Admira and Liefering. Austria SB’s next 10 includes six home matches, while Wacker’s includes four home matches. Both clubs will return to league play after this match.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Wacker 2, Austria SB 1. Interstat’s ELO system gives Wacker a 63.2 percent probability to win.