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After recently mixed performances in the Bundesliga, Vienna’s arch rivals felt a sense of success ahead of the big 331 derby. If Rapid stepped into the knockout phase with a 3: 1 at Dundalk in the Europa League, Austria increased their performance from previously meager goals with a 5: 3 against Hartberg in the round of 16 of the cup. The favorite is green and white on Sunday. Austria has never lost at the Allianz Stadium.
>> Live ticker: Rapid Vienna vs. Austria Vienna
“The momentum speaks more for Rapid. But recently they once again left the top of the table behind. It is 50:50 as in almost every game in this league,” Austria coach Peter Stöger said of the starting position. In terms of paper form, Rapid has an advantage. “I still believe that everything is open,” said Stöger. In the opponent, Dietmar Kühbauer, who was the last patient, should return to the supervisor’s bench. There are things almost unimaginable in the days of Corona: The prestigious duel takes place without fans. This was never the case, at least in the postwar period.
A “tough fight” is expected
However, it is a “special match”, said Rapid assistant coach Manfred Nastl. Stöger should be on the same page. “It is still a special game. Also because the moment is special for us.” With a hit in West Vienna, your team might as well “build momentum” to the table and save a certain topic, that is, after the top six. After eight rounds, Austria is currently only eighth and currently four league matches without a win.
Rapid missed the jump to the top after the 3: 4 exchange of blows with Ried and had to let LASK push them to third place. At home, Hütteldorfer are still winless in six attempts with three losses and three draws to Austria. In December of the previous year, the two teams were separated with a 2: 2. The record after the last twelve league games is fully balanced with four wins, four draws and four losses.
Nastl braced himself for a “tough fight.” “Austria has an advantage with one more day off. But it won’t make a difference, we are used to the pace,” he said. His team wants to accelerate again on Sunday. “The derby is always such that 22 players are energized. It’s an open game, I don’t see favorites,” explained Nastl. Your boss is already “burning” at home to be there again. Therefore, Kühbauer wants to return to training on Saturday after, according to Nastl, the last flu and fever bothered him.
Austria draws a lot of positives from the cup win
Marcel Ritzmaier, who was saved against Dundalk, should also get back in shape in time. Rapid trained in Dublin on Friday morning before the entourage left for home. Rapid will not have to skimp for the next Europa League game against Arsenal next Thursday in London. The promotion will only be decided in the group final against El Molde on December 10.
Stöger hoped to see Kühbauer again in Vienna. His team did well at that, after goalless matches and even scoring chances in the round of 16 of the ÖFB Cup against Hartberg, a lot of things worked. With a score of 5: 1, the Violets caught avoidable goals in the final, but Stöger had saved his strength. “Now many things can be positive,” said the coach ahead of Sunday. The fast ones have strengths on offense, but: “We have opportunities to give them trouble defensively.” Of course, that requires a good day.
From Austria’s attacking department, Christoph Monschein returned to the Cup field after the team forward feared failure until the end of the year. Alon Turgeman should also provide more fun accents. The duo don’t seem fully prepared for a mission from the start. Dominik Fitz could start. The 21-year-old was also absent for months, a 90-minute mission still seems illusory. Alexander Grünwald will definitely be missing. The Austrian captain saw yellow-red against St. Pölten and is suspended.
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