Before Rapid game: A statistic speaks for blue and white

After the confident promotion to the European Cup, newly promoted FC Blau-Weiss Linz is waiting for record champions Rapid Wien on Sunday (5 p.m.). The Upper Austrians, who are still without a win, went into the sold-out game as “blatant outsiders” – before the blue and white coach Gerald Scheiblehner saw “a very good game from Rapid” in the 5-0 win in the European Cup against Debrecen. “The team is in good shape. They are very confident and want to make up for Hartberg’s bad Bundesliga game and come back at the top of the table.”

His team had no chance in the derby against LASK (0:2). “I don’t want to keep saying that we’re gaining experience, in the end it’s about winning games.” For a win against Rapid, the grapes would hang high. “We’re going into the game as blatant outsiders, but we’ll do everything we can to win the game,” says Scheiblehner, who will definitely be without Fabian Windhager (ankle injury) against the Green-Whites. There is still a question mark over the use of captain Michael Brandner (muscular problems in his calf), who, like Windhager, had to end Thursday’s training early.

At least the statistics mean it well with the people of Linz, because: Green and white has rarely done justice to the favorite position against the promoted team in the recent past. The last win so far in a first season comparison with a newcomer dates from 2019 (2-0 at WSG Tirol). Since 2005, eight wins have faced eight defeats with four draws. “We know with what emotion and motivation the blue and white will go into this game,” stressed Barisic. “They have nothing to lose. It’s always complicated because as a Rapid you have a problem if you don’t win.”

Game idea as a permanent theme

And the fans of FC Blau-Weiss Linz seem to have been a little too spoiled by the successful promotion season. Although only three games have been played in the upper house, some supporters are already nervous. The permanent topic: Can the successful game idea that Blau-Weiss has practiced in the second division in recent years also be implemented in the Bundesliga? Blue and white coach Scheiblehner has a clear opinion: “We were able to gain some experience in the first three games. We now have to learn from that and become more consistent over the 90 minutes.”

He doesn’t want to suggest a departure from the intensive style of play: “After Salzburg or Sturm Graz, we attacked the highest. That’s what all the statistics show. Our problem, however, is that after winning the ball, we currently create situations that are too dangerous, sometimes it even becomes dangerous for us us. Our idea of ​​playing with high pressing is unchanged.”