Austria v Moldova background
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Article summary
As unbeaten Group G leaders Austria and rock-bottom Moldova meet again, Marcel Koller's side know a victory could send them to the finals – with a little Swedish help.
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Article body
Yet to lose a game in Group G, Austria could become one of the first teams to confirm their place at UEFA EURO 2016 as they play host to Moldova.
Previous meetings
• Austria ground out a 2-1 win in Moldova in the sides' first Group G encounter; Marc Janko scored the clincher on 51 minutes but was sent off with eight minutes to go.
• The two countries first met on 7 September 2002, captain Andreas Herzog converting two penalties (4, 29) to secure a 2-0 victory for Hans Krankl's Austria. However, on 7 June 2013, Viktor Pasulko's Moldova won the return fixture 1-0 with a goal from Viorel Frunza (60). It was their first UEFA European Championship success since overcoming Georgia 3-2 in November 1995.
Disciplinary
• Austria's Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic and Florian Klein are all a booking away from a suspension.
• Moldova's Alexandru Gaţcan, Serghei Gheorghiev and Victor Golovatenco are all a yellow card away from a one-game ban.
Form guide
• Leaders Austria are on a five-match winning streak in Group G and have not conceded in their last four competitive outings.
• Austria have not been on such a run of form since 1997, when they won six successive FIFA World Cup qualifiers between April and October.
• If Austria see off Moldova – and Russia fail to beat second-placed Sweden – there is no way Austria can finish lower than second in the section: they would thus be certain of a ticket to the finals.
• Bottom-ranked Moldova are still to register a Group G victory, taking two points from five games to date. Austria may note with caution that both of those draws came away from home.
Trivia and links
• This is Austria's 100th UEFA European Championship fixture; their record in the previous 99 is W41 D18 L40.
• Austria have had the better of the teams' fixtures in UEFA youth and age-group categories. Their record reads W2 D3 L0; both those wins came by 1-0 margins, in 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying.
• In the head-to-head between the two countries' clubs, Austria are very much on top with the record W6 D2 L0 in UEFA competition. There have been no encounters since SV Ried got the better of FC Tiraspol in the 2006 UEFA Intertoto Cup third round.
