Austria will host Serbia in a crucial UEFA Nations League 2024-25 promotion/relegation play-off match at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna tonight. Check the match and telecast details of the AUT vs SRB first-leg tie here. (More Football News)
Despite a sluggish start, a 1-1 draw with Slovenia and a 1-2 defeat against Norway on successive matchdays -- both on the road -- Austria did well to finish the League B group stage with 11 points.
However, it proved too little and too late. In the four-team Group 3, Das Team missed out on the lone automatic promotion by two points with that defeat in Norway inflicting the maximum damage, as it turned out. But by finishing runners-up, Ralf Rangnick's charges have given themselves a second chance.
Group wrap: Norway, with 13 points, got promoted to League A, while Kazakhstan (1) were relegated to League C. Austria (11) will contest the League A/B play-offs and Slovenia (8) will fight in the relegation playoff against Slovakia.
How did Serbia arrive here?
Placed in Group 4 with Spain, Denmark and Switzerland, the Eagles started their campaign positively, holding Spain to a goalless draw at home. But in the next five outings, they could muster only one win (2-0 against Switzerland). There were another couple of draws, but the defeat against Denmark (0-2) and a humbling in Spain (0-3) have effectively killed their hopes.
So, Spain and Denmark qualified for the quarter-finals as group winners and runners-up, respectively, while Switzerland got relegated. Now, third-place Serbia will fight to stay in the top tier. A defeat, and they will join the Nati in League B when the next edition kicks off in late 2026.
Austria vs Serbia head-to-head record
Austria and Serbia have met five times so far and the head-to-head record is 3-2 in favour of the Eagles -- winning three on the trot, from 2008 to 2016. But the Austrians won their last two meetings.
For the record, the Serbian national teams as we know them today were only formed in 2006. Before that, Serbians were part of the team representing Yugoslavia, and then Serbia and Montenegro.
Austria vs Serbia Predicted XIs
Austria: Patrick Pentz; Alexander Prass, David Alaba, Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene; Nicolas Seiwald, Patrick Wimmer, Romano Schmid, Christoph Baumgartner, Marcel Sabitzer; Marko Arnautovic. Head coach - Ralf Rangnick.
Serbia: Predrag Rajkovic; Srdann Babic, Milos Veljkovic, Strahinja Erakovic; Veljko Birmancevic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Sasa Lukic, Mirko Topic, Lazar Samardzic; Dusan Vlahovic, Luka Jovic. Head coach - Dragan Stojkovic.
Austria Vs Serbia Live Streaming Details:
When is the Austria Vs Serbia, UEFA Nations League 2024-25 Play-Off first leg match?
The Austria Vs Serbia, UEFA Nations League 2024-25 Play-Off first leg match will take place at 1:15 AM IST at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna.
Where to watch the Austria Vs Serbia, UEFA Nations League 2024-25 Play-Off first leg match?
The Austria Vs Serbia, UEFA Nations League 2024-25 Play-Off first leg match will be available on the SonyLIV application and website in India.
