ERC Ingolstadt produced a comfortable away victory against Black Wings Linz in a friendly on Saturday, the final whistle confirming a 4-1 scoreline. It was a result that reflected the gap between two sides at different stages of their preparations, though the recent form of both clubs suggests neither was heading into this match in particularly confident mood. To be fair, Linz had been struggling of late.
The visitors were clinical when it mattered, taking control early and seeing out the game without real pressure. Black Wings got on the scoresheet but could not find a way back into a contest that was decided before the break. And here's the thing about friendlies — the score tells you more about what worked on the day than about long-term prospects.
Linz's recent record reads like a cautionary tale: a 2-3 defeat to Litvinov, a 2-5 loss against Munich Red Bulls, and a string of defeats to Filak and Graz 99. They had not kept a clean sheet on the spin for some time, and this result extended their worries rather than easing them. By then, the coaching staff would have been looking at a lot of areas to address.
Ingolstadt, meanwhile, had shown they could score for fun against Munich Red Bulls — three separate matches with goals flowing. A 4-3 win over Val Pusteria in their most recent outing suggested momentum, and this performance against Linz confirmed it. They had been on the brink of a move, and this victory kept them moving forward.
The result means little in any league table, but it offers a snapshot of where both clubs stand in their pre-season preparations. Linz will need to turn things around quickly if they are to avoid another difficult run. Ingolstadt, having extended their unbeaten run to eight in all competitions, can spring a surprise when the season begins.