This will be a real home game for SV Guntamatic Ried. The team is already on its way to Klagenfurt in the team bus for the cup final against Salzburg (Sunday, 5 p.m., ORF eins and nachrichten.at live). And the first bus with supporters of the Innviertel Bundesliga team is already heading to Klagenfurt today. A big fan choreography is then prepared in the stadium throughout the day.
A total of around 40 fan buses will follow on Sunday, setting off from the Innviertel in the direction of Carinthia. 34 buses alone were filled with the joint action of SV Ried and OÖNachrichten. “At 7 a.m., the first 15 buses leave in the direction of Europapark in Klagenfurt. From 2 p.m. there will be a fan march to the stadium,” says Ried’s Marketing Manager Tim Entenfellner.
850 fans of SV Ried already know the way to Klagenfurt’s Wörthersee Stadium on February 24, 2020. Shortly before the outbreak of the corona pandemic, the Innviertlers played against Austria Klagenfurt in an important game in the fight for promotion, which SV Ried finally managed. On tomorrow’s state holiday, far more fans will set off from the Innviertel. Despite the very long journey, the unfavorable date (the game starts at 5 p.m. on Sunday) and the recent sportingly meager results, around 3000 fans of SV Ried are expected in the Carinthian provincial capital.
“In terms of atmosphere, we will have the upper hand in the stadium. The lower tier of the south stand will be pretty much sold out with around 2,300 Ried fans,” says Entenfellner. Around 1,000 supporters are likely to gather in the Salzburg sector.
The Rieder IT expert Michael Lobmaier is a regular fan at SV Ried home games. Of course, reaching the cup final is a great thing. “But staying up in the league has top priority.” It is important to strengthen the defensive, to take up the fight “and to let the so-called beautiful football be beautiful football. In the current situation, only scratching and biting helps. I hope for an away win against Altach. Then it looks pretty good with the league.” He will definitely follow the cup final, said Lobmaier. “Either I’m going to Carinthia at short notice, or I’m in front of the TV. I’m definitely there.”
Ernst Lindinger will follow the final on television. Der Rieder says: “I’m basically a positive person, and when I see that 2,000 fans are going to Klagenfurt and that’s the last chance for a title this year, and when I saw at the last home game that capacity was saved , then I’m convinced that there will be a win on Sunday.”
opinion poll
Relegation battle and cup final: For the fans of SV Ried, the situation is a real rollercoaster ride. We asked around before the final.
“In order to be able to create the big sensation, SV Ried needs an extremely good match plan on Sunday and at the same time a weak day for Salzburg.”
Markus Hammerer, he shot SV Ried to the cup victory in 2011
“Staying up in the league has the highest priority, it only helps to scratch and bite – ‘playing nice football’ doesn’t get the SV any further at the moment. I will definitely follow the cup final.”
Michael Lobmaier, Ried
“We take two buses from Hohenzell to Klagenfurt. I’m hoping for a nice trip, but I’m sure it will be difficult against dominant Salzburg.”
Alexander Andetsberger, bank clerk, Ried
“If 2000 fans go to Klagenfurt and capacity was apparently saved at the last home game – then a victory will look out for on Sunday.”
Ernst Lindinger, Technical Manager ISG, Ried
“I’m watching the final with some friends on TV. The game is immensely important, but staying in the league is even more important to me than the cup final!”
Thomas Karba, owner of the Avia petrol station in Ried
Source: Nachrichten
