First Vienna vs SKU Amstetten - 2. Liga

The 2. Liga returns to the home ground on August 28, 2026, where First Vienna and SKU Amstetten will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. That coronation came from City's £116m summer signing Elliot Anderson - and has been hotly debated in the build-up to the Manchester derby Super Sunday showdown at Old Trafford, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

There is plenty riding on this 2. Liga encounter for First Vienna and SKU Amstetten alike, and neither will want to leave the home ground empty-handed. First Vienna have found a groove, W across their last five and operating at a win rate of 66.67% this season. The visitors have been hard to predict on their travels, W in their last five reflecting a win rate of 33.33%. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. Leeds will not improve on their third offer but have left it on the table in case Saints reconsider their position.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. First Vienna will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while SKU Amstetten must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. The 29-year-old ranked 4th in strokes gained approach in 2026, and he has finished outside the top four in that specific category only once in the seven full seasons he has played on the PGA Tour.

Individual moments of quality could tip the balance. Both sides possess players capable of producing something out of nothing, and a single flash of brilliance may be all that separates them. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. Recruitment director Christopher Vivell is among those who have put the Roma midfielder forward as a potential option, while director of football Jason Wilcox has highlighted other targets, contributing to the slow progress of any deal.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 2-2. With positions in the 2. Liga table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.