Rapid tackles the Salzburg hurdle, Austria will continue to win
Rapid will make their next attempt on Sunday (5:00 p.m.) in the 25th round of the Bundesliga to finally put an end to the odds against Red Bull Salzburg. The “Bulls” have won nine of the last ten direct duels. Vienna’s Austria are favorites for the home game against Klagenfurt (2.30 p.m.). Mann is unbeaten for six games in a row. Wolfsberger AC receives Sturm Graz (2.30 p.m.). The Carinthians want the first win in the master group since the division of the league.
Hütteldorfer recently lost seven times in a row in Salzburg. The hosts can go into the game in Wals-Siezenheim as superior leaders, the Viennese need every point in the fight for second place as currently fourth.
“There’s no longer any discussion about who is the favorite,” Rapid coach Ferdinand Feldhofer is aware. As an underdog, his team lost 2-0 in Salzburg on September 19 and 2-1 at home on February 11 of this year. The decision is always made late in the game. That’s not the only reason why those responsible for Rapid hope for a surprise in front of more than 1,000 Rapid supporters. “What I expected is correct, is our current form. The direction is right,” emphasized the ex-defender.
Rapid are unbeaten in five games for the first time this season, have only lost to Salzburg in their last ten games and are still undefeated away from home under Feldhofer. Matthias Jaissle did not remain unaware of this either. “They are unbelievably successful and constantly on the move. We also know exactly how it was in Vienna, a totally tight game that went back and forth. We have to be prepared for the fact that it will be the same on Sunday,” said Salzburg’s coach. The Rapidler would act very aggressively and bring a good mentality to the pitch. “But we want to show that we are the best team in Austria.”
Austria’s chance for second place comes true with a win against the championship group bottom light from Carinthia, coach Manfred Schmid is back after a corona infection and is highly motivated. Schmid is burning, also or precisely because Corona has left its mark (“I underestimated it a bit, had more serious symptoms and the aftermath to this day”), to return to the sidelines, where the Derby assistant Cem Sekerlioglu was standing. Despite twelve team players being absent, the international break was “very intense”, Schmid stated. “The players push themselves,” said the 51-year-old happily.
Schmid exuded self-confidence. “I think we’re going to be favorites in this game and we want to continue the streak,” he said. “We really want to win, but to say it’s a must-win would be disrespectful. A very difficult opponent to play. And we haven’t won against them that often,” joked Schmid. Both games this season ended in a draw in the Generali Arena with a 1:1, in Klagenfurt with 0:0.
For Klagenfurt coach Peter Pacult it is a meeting with a single player colleague. At the end of his active career, the 62-year-old played alongside Schmid in 1995/96 in the dress of “Veilchen”. “I always had to do the work,” the younger man recalled the time together. “That was his job too,” said the “old man” with no less a wink. Horst Hrubesch got him back then as an extended hand on the field in order to follow a path that Austria is now taking. “Schmid was incredibly important for the team back then. And what he’s doing now as a coach is just great,” he said to his current opponent Rosen. And he only found praise. “I appreciate his open and honest art, and we have a very lively exchange,” reported Schmid.
Fifth-placed Wolfsberger would be on par with second-placed Sturm Graz in terms of points if they were successful. Styrians are trying to secure the place behind Salzburg.
So far, spring has not gone according to plan for the WAC. In the ÖFB-Cup came the end against Salzburg, in the championship the Carinthians conceded four defeats with one win in five games. In the fight for the European Cup places, coach Robin Dutt’s team now wants to write again. The previous two duels of the season were clear affairs – each for the away team. While the Graz team triumphed 4-1 in Wolfsberg, the “Wolves” took revenge on Sturm with a 3-0 win.
Storm coach Christian Ilzer showed great respect for the WAC, but three points are still the goal. “We’re going to Lavanttal to win, a win would be a huge step in the right direction. Wolfsberg are an absolute top team with a very experienced squad and in the attacking third they are among the best teams in the league. That’s why we need all our strengths on the pitch to take three points.”