Altach, however, are also firmly entrenched in the relegation battle. The Vorarlberg side have six points, just one fewer than Austria’s seven. Friday’s encounter at the Schnabelholz therefore brings together two clubs whose seasons have fallen well short of expectations.
Three games to save Helm’s job
Austria’s latest setback, a 3-2 defeat away to SV Ried, intensified speculation about Helm’s future. According to media reports, the club subsequently held a lengthy crisis meeting to discuss the team’s performances and the head coach’s position.
German magazine Kicker reports that the 43-year-old will be given a maximum of three more matches to turn things around. After the trip to Altach, Austria host Hartberg in the Austrian Cup round of 16 on Tuesday before facing league leaders SK Rapid in the Vienna derby on 1 November.
Potential replacements are already being discussed behind the scenes. Maximilian Uhlig is considered a leading candidate. The 33-year-old has guided Austria’s reserve side, the Young Violets, to third place in the second division. He knows the club inside out and has built a strong reputation as a youth coach.
A return for former Austria manager Manfred Schmid, meanwhile, is off the table for now. He was appointed Wolfsberger AC’s new head coach on Thursday following the departure of Thomas Silberberger.
Altach are better than their league position suggests
Ognjen Zarić’s side have also struggled to translate their performances into points. Nine rounds into the campaign, they have recorded just two victories and seven defeats. Only three points have come from their last seven Bundesliga fixtures.
Yet Altach have frequently played better football than their results suggest. They look to create opportunities through quick combinations out wide and aggressive pressing after losing possession. Ousmane Diawara is particularly dangerous with his pace, while Patrick Greil is the team’s leading scorer with two goals.
Their biggest problem has been inconsistency. Altach impressed in a 3-0 home victory over Wolfsberger AC, only to suffer an equally emphatic 3-0 defeat at Salzburg a week later.
One statistic illustrates just how dependent they have been on their home form: all eight of Altach’s league goals and all six of their points have come at the Schnabelholz. They have yet to score away from home.
Austria have not won in Altach since 2022
Recent head-to-head results offer little encouragement for the visitors. Austria’s last away victory against SCR Altach came in February 2022. Since then, their five visits to the Schnabelholz have produced three defeats and two draws.
Altach also won the most recent meeting, securing a 2-1 victory in February 2026. Historically, however, Austria have the stronger record. The clubs have faced each other 51 times in the Bundesliga, with 24 victories for the Vienna side compared with Altach’s 17. That historical advantage has offered Austria little consolation on their recent trips west.
Their current away form is hardly more reassuring. Austria have taken just four points from their opening five away fixtures, six fewer than at the same stage last season. They are without a win in their last three matches on the road.
There was at least one positive against Ried: Johannes Eggestein ended his lengthy goalscoring drought. The striker scored both of Austria’s goals, finding the net in the Bundesliga for the first time since March. He also has an encouraging individual record against Altach, having scored three times in four previous league meetings.
Dragović remains sidelined for Austria
Helm will again have to make adjustments to his starting eleven. Defensive leader Aleksandar Dragović remains unavailable with muscular problems, while Philipp Wiesinger is also not yet ready to return. Manprit Sarkaria and Noah Botić are further absentees, although the latter is gradually being reintegrated into team training.
Altach will be without suspended midfielder Mike Bähre. Otherwise, Zarić is expected to have almost his entire squad available.
Ahead of the match, Helm demanded greater defensive discipline from his players. He felt that Austria had created enough scoring opportunities against Ried but made too many mistakes in their own defensive third. At the same time, he stressed that his players must not lose their courage or confidence despite the difficult circumstances.
The Austria coach also warned against underestimating Altach simply because of their league position, pointing out that the Vorarlberg side’s performances have been considerably better than their points total suggests.
A relegation battle with major consequences
A home victory would lift Altach above Austria and push the Vienna club even deeper into trouble. Another defeat for Helm could bring an already tense situation to breaking point.
The match carries considerable importance for Zarić as well. Altach need to start converting their promising football into points more consistently if they are to avoid losing touch with the teams in mid-table.
Austria now face three matches in ten days — against Altach, Hartberg and SK Rapid — that could determine far more than their immediate sporting prospects. By the end of the Vienna derby, it should become clear whether Stephan Helm will be allowed to continue in charge of the Violets.
