The Austrian Bundesliga will run the play-offs in a hurry and the ten games will be played in English weeks. This does not leave much regeneration time and a phase of weakness during this period can have serious consequences. Already on matchday two, both teams feel great pressure in the top game between Rapid Vienna and Sturm Graz.
Both teams suffered an initial defeat on Wednesday. Rapid Wien had to surrender 0: 2 against the reigning champions Red Bull Salzburg in Wals-Siezenheim, the Blackies from Graz suffered a 1: 2 home defeat in the “pack derby” against Wolfsberg and thus slipped to the last place in the table Master group and would no longer have a chance of international business.
For guests from Styria, on Sunday it is a matter of “Losing forbidden” under all circumstances, so as not to permanently lose contact with the competition. A look at the betting base odds comparison shows between Rapid Vienna and Sturm Graz according to current odds a clear favorite role among the green-whites. The game starts on Sunday evening at 18:30 p.m. The remaining games in the Austrian Bundesliga are analyzed in the soccer football tip category.
Rapid Vienna:
SK Rapid Wien started the master group with low hopes and once again dreamed of winning the number 33 title in the club’s history. Especially after the deduction of the LASK, the championship lead was within reach. However, it was clear to those involved that in the event of an initial defeat the chances will be reduced to a minimum. The conclusion after the first 90 minutes after the restart was sobering in the camp of the green-whites. The championship dream has already burst after the 0-2 defeat.
A loss at Red Bull Salzburg, who have already played a competitive match thanks to the cup final, is certainly not a surprise. The appearance of the record champion was not guilty of the sobering conclusion in Vienna-Hütteldorf. Rather, the incredible bad luck for injuries is hard to put into words. Christopher Dibon twisted his knee after three minutes and had to be replaced. In the meantime, a cruciate ligament tear emerged; the 2020 calendar year has ended for the 29-year-old.
His substitute Mario Sonnleitner also had to leave the field after less than half an hour and forced Kühbauer to make a second change on the central defender position. This left Kühbauer only one option for the changes three to five. He took this opportunity after 70 minutes and the just substituted Thomas Murg injured himself in the first action. It was no longer possible to continue playing and thus green-white ended the game ten.
Both players will not be available to Kühbauer on Sunday evening either and will therefore cause serious personnel problems in the warehouse of the Austrian record champion. In addition to the trio, there are other players who are stricken with the youngsters Velimirovic, Schuster, Wunsch, Demir and Schobesberger.
Anything but a good omen for the trend-setting game against SK Sturm Graz. Even the home balance sheet does not necessarily give rise to hope. The chic Allianz Arena has not yet become the hoped-for fortress. In 2019/20 Rapid Vienna cheered only four of the eleven wins of the season in front of a home crowd. The empty bleachers may even be an advantage as the pressure from the ranks decreases significantly.
Sturm Graz:
“Business as usual” in the SK Sturm Graz warehouse. After the long forced break, the Graz team started with big goals in the master group and were brought to the ground in the home game against the WAC. In the 1-2 defeat in the pack derby, the Blackies once again acted far too harmlessly in the game. Head coach Nestor El Maestro is known for the fact that the defensive has top priority and the offensive is only in second place. With this philosophy, the defensive should also ensure that you stand safely.
It would certainly be too easy to fix the earnings crisis solely on the defensive. At Sturm Graz, no offensive fireworks are expected, but a little more relief from the offensive people would not be wrong. After the game, the managing director Andreas Schicker demanded that an immediate increase was necessary to achieve his own goals.
An increase is also sorely necessary, because a look at the last results in the Austrian Bundesliga shows a devastating picture; only one of the last seven Bundesliga games has been victorious. Sturm Graz will not be able to buy the ticket to Europe with these numbers.
Despite the disappointing start and the pressure given the table situation, the SK Sturm Graz camp is in good spirits before the game on Sunday evening. After all, Grazer has mostly had good experiences in Hütteldorf in recent years. In addition, Sturm Graz is much more successful in the current championship away than at home.
Sturm Graz has to do without Anastasios Avlonitis after a yellow-red card, but the personnel situation is by no means as precarious as in the camp of the green-whites.
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1,60
