Hartberg celebrates its first victory: chaos at Rapid and a strong storm duel!

Hartberg celebrates its first victory: chaos at Rapid and a strong storm duel!

Football fans in Vienna can look forward to a big duel next Sunday: Rapid will face the champions and league leaders Sturm Graz. More than 22,000 spectators are expected in Hütteldorf, and coach Peter Stöger is calling on his team to give it their all. After a turbulent start to the season, Rapid is under pressure to remain among the top six teams in the league.

The second half of the regular season begins on Saturday with exciting encounters: GAK is in the shadow of Blau Weiß Linz and LASK, while GAK, which is currently at the bottom, is aiming for its first win of the season against Altach. Altach achieved a surprisingly good sixth place this season with 14 points. This could be GAK's last chance to escape the relegation zone.

A look at the competition

The situation for the Linz derby between Blau Weiß and LASK is no less dramatic. The latter has had an impressive run since the return of his coach Didi Kühbauer and has won the last three games without conceding a goal. Blau Weiß, currently in second-to-last place, have won in two previous home games against LASK without conceding a single goal. There are exciting games in the air.

Wiener Austria, on the other hand, will play their first competitive game in the southern city since March 2022 on Saturday. Back then, Austria won against Admira and made it into the championship round. Coach Manfred Schmid, who now works as a coach at Hartberg, led this positive run. Schmid caused unrest at Austria last season with a decisive win in the Uniqa Cup semi-finals and a 3-1 win at the Generali Arena, but President Kurt Gollowitzer still has his back.

Special framework conditions for Hartberg

Hartberg plays the last “home game” in the southern part of the city before the team returns to their own stadium after the international break. In the season so far, Hartberg has lost in the southern city against big teams like Salzburg and Rapid, but the record of two wasted away wins in the last few minutes shows that the team definitely has potential.

These explosive encounters come at a time when Rapid is under pressure due to riots in recent games. The club not only loses important points, but is also criticized. The last matchday before the points are shared will be crucial, with LASK against Sturm Graz and Rapid against GAK, while Blau-Weiß Linz meets Hartberg. Who will prevail and bring home the decisive points?

Furthermore, Stripfing could have serious financial problems after a clear 0-4 defeat against Rapid II and may face bankruptcy. The next games promise a lot of excitement and drama in the Austrian Bundesliga.

On Sunday, the focus will be on sport in Vienna - and as is often the case, it's about much more than just points. There's something going on!