Sturm are getting closer to Salzburg: “We’ve taken a step”
With the 0-0 draw at Red Bull Salzburg, SK Sturm Graz once again proved that the gap to the series champions from the city of Mozart is narrower than it has been for a long time.
Salzburg and Sturm part with a 0-0 draw.
GEPA images
It is an unusual picture that opens up when you look at the table of the Austrian Bundesliga. Although leads Red Bull Salzburg the league quickly befitting, with Storm Graz the series champion has a serious competitor breathing down his neck for the first time in a long time. After this 0-0 draw in Salzburg the two teams are only separated by two points after the 13th matchday.
Bundesliga – 13th matchday
“We’re in a very, very good position. We’ve made a step,” said Sturm captain Stefan Hierländer, analyzing Graz’ development after the top game. In fact, the black and whites showed once again on Saturday that they were able to get close to Salzburg this season and that the championship race in Austria could be more exciting than it has been for a long time.
Ilzer: “Salzburg is still the measure of all things”
Sturm have been unbeaten against Salzburg for three games now, but coach Christian Ilzer did not let himself be carried away by a declaration of war after the draw: “Salzburg is still the measure of all things in Austria.” He is very satisfied with the current course of the season: “For I’m glad that the championship hasn’t been decided yet at the beginning of November, which is almost here.”
Even more would have been possible for Sturm, but Tomi Horvat (56th), William Böving (70th) and Albian Ajeti (83rd) missed three top chances for the runner-up of the past season. “I mourn the missed victory a bit,” explained Ilzer. “Over the game it’s a fair draw.”
Salzburg head coach Matthias Jaissle meanwhile came to a different conclusion: “The 0-0 is a bit unfortunate for us overall.” The 34-year-old mainly played on the hairy duel between Mohamed Fuseini and Strahinja Pavlovic in added time of the second Half of the game started when referee Stefan Ebner, to the dismay of the home team, saw a swallow from the Serbian central defender and awarded Pavlovic a yellow card instead of a penalty for Salzburg. “That could have turned out in our favour,” said Jaissle, without wanting to comment further on the “precarious” scene.
Pavlovic himself was surprised at the dismissal: “I was sure it was a penalty, but the referee decided otherwise. Of course I’m disappointed, especially since I’m suspended by the second yellow card next week.”
Seiwald praises storm and practices self-criticism
In the first half, Pavlovic missed Salzburg’s best opportunity after a strong solo run, but otherwise the Jaissle team had an unusually difficult time going forward. That, according to midfielder Nicolas Seiwald, was also due to Sturm: “Of course the opponent put us under extreme pressure, which we’re not used to in the league. But we have to do better, we didn’t create enough chances today. From that point of view we were relatively far away from a goal.”
Nevertheless, Salzburg is expanding its impressive home series, the series champions have now been unbeaten in front of their own audience for 33 Bundesliga games. And Salzburg will hope to be able to celebrate with their fans in the upcoming Champions League match against Chelsea (Tuesday, 6.45 p.m.). Two days later, Sturm welcomes Feyenoord Rotterdam in the Europa League.