In the regular season Rapid suffered a 2-1 home defeat in the eleventh round in October, and lost 2-0 in the return match in the 22nd round. Now the green-whites went empty again on Sunday. A 3: 3 in the prestige duel against Austria a month ago remained the highest derby feeling for Rapid this season. Even then, the Violets were the better team. “Now we’ve played four times against Austria and lost three times. And deserves that,” admitted Guido Burgstaller frankly.
Rapids head coach Zoran Barisic was also visibly served. While his opponent, Austria coach Michael Wimmer, raved about the “power and energy” of his team from the first minute, Barisic had to explain the cautious and sometimes almost anxious performance of his team. Barisic identified “the problem that we don’t manage to bring consistency into our game”. If you don’t lead the important duels in such a way that you absolutely want to win them, you are the second winner.
Austria defeats Rapid
Three goals from Haris Tabakovic gave Wiener Austria a 3-1 derby win over arch-rivals Rapid Wien. Burgstaller’s 2-1 goal was no more than a cosmetic result.
“Must ask for more from us”
Although important players were missing against Austria, the duel was more than inadequate. “You have to give the last shirt to the team and the club. That’s how you have to appear. We have to ask more of ourselves, each and every one of us,” stressed Barisic. An analysis that supported Burgstaller’s statement. “We play well for a few minutes, but that’s far too little,” said the veteran.
Rapid is still in the championship group with just one win, the 3-1 win over Austria Klagenfurt over a month ago. In between, the final in the Uniqa-ÖFB-Cup (0:2 against Puntigamer Sturm Graz) was also lost. The quite solid appearances against Salzburg (1: 1, 1: 2) seem to be forgotten again. Hütteldorfer’s record against the series champions, Sturm Graz and Austria is disastrous.
Tight final announced
In total, these three teams have gone 40 competitive games without a win (19 Salzburg, eleven Austria, ten Sturm). On Sunday it’s at home against third-placed LASK. Barisic looked ahead to a difficult game, but presented himself as an optimist. “We’re playing at home, so I’m assuming that we can extend our home strength,” said the coach.
Barisic did not want to look ahead to the end of the season. In any case, green and white run the risk of being sixth in the end without a place in the European Cup. Austria Klagenfurt is two points behind, the Carinthians also have Rapid am Wörthersee as guests in addition to Austria. The fifth has to go to the European Cup play-off for the last international starting place. Barisic looked tense ahead of the crucial laps. “Every game is very close, it’s the little things that count,” he said. “It’s tough, it’s equally tough for all teams.”
Master Group, 29th round
Sunday:
Austria – Rapid 3:1 (2:1)
Tore:
1:0 Tabakovic (23.)
2:0 Tabakovic (27.)
2: 1 Burgstaller (36th)
3:1 Tabakovic (90.+6)
Austria: Früchtl – Mühl, Martins, Meisl – Ranftl, Holland (80./Braunöder), Fischer, Leidner – Gruber (77./Jukic), Tabakovic, Fitz (85./Dovedan)
Rapid: Hedl – Kasius, Sollbauer, Wimmer, Moormann (85th / Bajic) – Kerschbaum, Greil – Strunz (32nd / Grüll), Druijf (58th / Zimmermann), Kühn – Burgstaller
Yellow cards: Holland, Fitz, Tabakovic or Greil, Kühn, Kerschbaum
The best: Ranftl, Tabakovic, Fitz or Burgstaller, Hedl