Glasner fielded a familiar line-up against his former employers, with recent signings Götze, Jérôme Onguéné, Hrvoje Smolcic, Marcel Wenig, Lucas Alario, Faride Alidou and Randal Kolo Muani all among the substitutes at the Raiffeisen Arena. Sebastian Rode, whose workload is being monitored by Glasner and his coaching staff, was the Eagles’ only notable absentee.
There was little to choose between the two sides in a hard-fought opening to the contest in Austria, but Eintracht – who were wearing their new away strip – soon began to assert their authority. The lively Filip Kostic fired narrowly wide after collecting a loose ball on the edge of the LASK penalty area, before sending a venomous effort against the post which Rafael Borré tucked home on the rebound. However, Evan Ndicka was adjudged to have deflected the ball into Borré’s path with his hand and the goal was chalked off.
Götze was one of 11 half-time changes by Glasner and the 30-year-old was an instant threat, almost releasing Alidou with a pin-point pass but the former Hamburg man was deemed to be in an offside position. The hosts appeared to grow in confidence towards the end of the game, but Diant Ramaj was equal to Florian Flecker’s low drive and Branko Jovicic was unable to hit the target from Thomas Goiginger’s ball. Alario almost netted the winner at the other end in the 90th minute but could only direct his shot straight at goalkeeper Alexander Schlager from Kolo Muani’s pass.
The Eagles are due to head to their training camp in Windischgarsten later on Saturday.
SGE first-half line-up
Trapp – Toure, Tuta, Ndicka – Knauff, Jakic, Sow, Kostic – Lindström, Borré, Kamada
Second half
Ramaj – Onguéné, Hasebe, Smolcic – Hauge (Chandler 76’), Wenig, Götze (Hrustic 76’), Lenz – Kolo Muani, Alario, Alidou
