Rapid loses 1: 2 against Arsenal in the first game of the Europa League

The group stage of the Europa League football started for Rapid with the expected defeat. Hütteldorfer had to admit defeat 1: 2 at London’s Allianz Stadium Arsenal on Thursday, but put up a respectable performance for long stretches. Taxiarchis Fountas left 3,000 spectators waiting for a sensation (51st), but then the quality of the guests became evident, scoring three points with shots from David Luiz (70th) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (74th).

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made six changes to the starting lineup compared to a 1-0 draw at Manchester City on Saturday. You couldn’t speak of a B-Elf, after all, there were kickers like Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe or David Luiz on the field. In addition, 50 million euro rookie Thomas Partey celebrated his debut in the starting eleven with the “Gunners”.

However, Rapid proved to be tough on defense and dangerous in the change game. Arsenal could not think of anything despite clear advantages in terms of possession, the only gain in the first half was a header from David Luiz, with goalkeeper Richard Strebinger in hand (15th).

In contrast, Rapid always made it into the frontcourt in a promising way. In the 19th minute, Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno intercepted a deflected Fersler from Marcel Ritzmaier, in the 35th minute a distant shot from Fountas landed in the arms of the German goalkeeper. Eight minutes later, a shot from Ercan Kara clearly flew past the far corner.

Rapid had the strongest phase immediately after the break. At first, the Hütteldorfer fell out with Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, and not without good reason. First, the referee let go of Eddie Nketiah’s elbow against Filip Stojkovic (47th), then missed a hand from Bukayo Saka (49th).

Instead of the referee, Leno stepped into the gap for Rapid. A failed pass from the goalkeeper found its way from Karas Schuhspitze to Fountas, who shot dry to 1-0. Leno made two more mistakes, albeit without consequence: in the 59th minute, Fountas benefited from a missed kick from the goalkeeper, who then stopped. In the 72nd minute Leno shot his teammate David Luiz, the goal was empty, but Fountas did not hit the goal from a difficult position.

At this point it was already 1: 1 because David Luiz had headed in after a free kick cross from Pepe (70), with the help of Strebinger, who ran out the door but no longer caught the ball. On the second goal, the Rapids goalkeeper had no chance. Héctor Bellerin was cleared by the right side, his center only had to carry Arsenal’s substitute star Aubameyang to the empty goal (74th).

The reigning FA Cup champion’s double blow was the logical consequence of the English sprinting in between after falling behind. So you took it easy again. Rapid tried very hard to make it 2-2, but was no longer able to put the Premier League club in decisive danger.