Rapid overcame the Derby home curse – 3-0 against Austria

In the sold-out Allianz Stadium, the Green-Whites won 3-0 (3-0) against Austria after a superior first half. Matthias Seidl (18th), Guido Burgstaller (20th) and Marco Grüll (40th) scored for coach Robert Klauß’s team. Rapid moved back up to sixth place in the table, things are now getting tight for Austria.

Two rounds before the points are divided, the Hütteldorfers are two points ahead of the WAC and four ahead of Austria, now in eighth place. Klagenfurt’s victory in the afternoon game made the situation even more difficult for the favorite team. Austria now has to win its remaining games at Blau-Weiß Linz and against WSG Tirol and hope that the competition slips up in order to slip into the championship group. Rapid hosts bottom team Austria Lustenau next week and has to go to Klagenfurter Austria.

Querfeld and Burgstaller returned to Rapid

Klauss didn’t cause any surprises with his derby line-up. The recently suspended Leopold Querfeld and Burgstaller returned to the starting eleven, otherwise there were no changes after the most recent performance in Graz (1:1). At Austria, Muharem Huskovic, who was injured the previous week, was on the field from the start, while Michael Wimmer relied on the experienced James Holland in midfield.

The opening minutes clearly belonged to the Green and White, who were more toxic and lively. Grüll already had plenty of space on the left in the 3rd minute and Burgstaller headed his cross over the crossbar from a few meters. Austria was completely occupied with defensive tasks and also made a lot of ball errors.

In the 18th minute, Austria had moved up. Rapid’s winter newcomer Christoph Lang cleverly used Burgstaller’s heel, who sprinted with the ball towards the goal and played at the right moment to Seidl, who was running along with him. The Salzburg player closed in dry with his left. The second goal resulted from a free kick from the right: Grüll crossed with a spin into the penalty area, where Burgstaller, left criminally alone, headed the ball into the goal. Reinhold Ranftl had lifted the Rapid captain’s offside position.

Austria lost important duels

Until then, Austria had practically not taken part, lost all important duels and wasted one ball after another in the center. It wasn’t until the 24th minute that the Violets made their first attack. However, Nikolas Sattlberger intervened in the penalty area in good time. What made matters worse for Austria was that central defender Marvin Martins had to leave the pitch after half an hour. Wimmer brought Manuel Polster in for him and switched to a back four in the meantime.

Before the half-time whistle, things happened quickly. In the 36th minute, Fitz hit the bar with Austria’s first shot on goal from over 20 meters. Three minutes later Seidl missed first on the opposite side before a long pass was launched by Grüll. He was up and away, rounded Mirko Kos and shot in with his left. The future Werder Bremen professional almost made it 4-0.

Austria now apparently tried the courage of desperation. A minute after the restart, substitute Andreas Gruber almost scored with a direct shot. Huskovic (57th/59th) then failed twice to Rapid goalie Niklas Hedl. After Austria’s good phase, the match was more evenly balanced again, although Rapid generally lacked the intensity of the first half. Polster missed a great chance for the guests in the 80th minute.

However, the score remained the same, which had already pleased the majority of the 26,000 spectators at halftime. Rapid’s last derby victory to date was on September 1, 2019 against Austria (3-1). On February 9, 2014, Rapid also won 3-1 at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium.