Salzburg “Red Bulls” showed the SK Sturm the master

Austria’s series champion FC Salzburg cannot be plunged into the crisis so quickly. The impending loss of the lead in the championship group has “Red Bulls” really hot. Matthias Jaissle’s team, who had to play no fewer than eleven players, kept their nerves in the Graz Merkur Arena, which was sold out with 15,500 spectators, and built up a lead over their pursuers Sturm with a 2-0 (0-0) win in the direct duel to five points.

Six laps before closing time everything smells like a successful title defense. “It was a fully deserved victory. Salzburg was the better team going forward”judged Sky expert Andreas Herzog.

The hit didn’t quite live up to expectations, it was an intense summit meeting that lacked the playful highlights. The Mozartstadters were ultimately more callous, Nicolas Capaldo (54th) and Benjamin Sesko (73rd) entered the shooting list.

“We didn’t allow almost anything at the back and took advantage of the few chances up front. We went into duels”said midfielder Nicolas Seiwald. “It was an important step, but nothing has been decided yet.”

The storm actors crept off the lawn like watered poodles – not only because of the onset of heavy rain. “We played too imprecisely and made a lot of mistakes. It was a sh… day at the end, you can’t say anything else”judged right-back Jusuf Gazibegovic. “It was far too little from us, nothing worked out for us. Salzburg wanted it more than we did, they put more effort into it.”

For the “Blackies” it was the first home defeat since February 25 (1-2 against Klagenfurt), Salzburg has been unbeaten in the championship since July 30, 2022 (1-2 at SK Sturm). A proud series. “We now want to win all the remaining matches”said Sekou Koita, who had prepared the 1-0 lead with a fine cross pass behind the Graz defense in an exemplary manner.

“I’m incredibly proud of my team, each of us gave 100 percent”Sesko rejoiced.