Sensational manager duel: Rapid Vienna beats Sturm Graz 2-1!

Sensational manager duel: Rapid Vienna beats Sturm Graz 2-1!

An exciting duel took place in Vienna's Weststadion on Sunday: SK Rapid Wien defeated SK Sturm Graz 2-1 and thus set a strong exclamation mark in the Bundesliga. Around 24,766 spectators attended and experienced an evening full of emotions and intensity. With this victory, Rapid overtook Graz in the table and is now in second place, just one point behind league leaders Salzburg. Coach David Preißinger's team has suffered a few setbacks in recent weeks, including against Lech Poznan, AC Fiorentina and direct rivals Austria Vienna, but the win against the reigning champions brought a breath of fresh air into the Rapid camp.

The atmosphere in the stadium was electric and the Ultras Rapid boasted impressive choreography. During the game they presented a block flag with an Indian and the distinctive lettering “Ultras”. A banner with the inscription “ON ORDER FOR RAPID – IN THE SIGN OF THE INDIAN” also adorned the fence. Almost 90 Bengals were ignited, creating an extraordinary play of colors that further fueled the mood. A delegation from Nuremberg also visited during the game and experienced the fervent Rapid fan life up close. In the last minutes of the game the decisive goal was scored to make it 2-1, which was celebrated with flares and emotional cheers in the West Block.

Social responsibility and a touching farewell

Another touching moment was the presentation of a banner in memory of a deceased Panathinaikos fan. The flag of the social campaign “Viennese helping Viennese” was also displayed, which has collected almost 800,000 euros for charitable purposes since 2010. The Rapid fans not only show their support for their own team, but also their commitment to social issues.

There were around 2,500 Sturm Graz fans in the guest block, who did not bring their own choreography, but occasionally set off pyrotechnics. At the beginning of the second half, the Rapid fans once again provided a real eye-catcher with a pyro show that lit up the West Block in colorful light. The western ranks became a little quieter as the second half progressed, while Brown and White took the lead and the visitors' Ultras Liberi flag was emblazoned in the block.

New security measures in Graz

However, there are also developments away from the field that could endanger the joy of football: In Graz, a new investigation group “Typical Violence in Sport” (SGS) was set up to take action against violent riots in sport in close cooperation with the public prosecutor's office and officials with knowledge of the scene. The efforts to increase security and order in the stadium area show that the league wants to focus on a non-violent fan existence.

Overall, the match between Rapid and Sturm Graz was not just a football game, but also an event that combined community, emotions and social commitment - a real football festival in Vienna that captivated both the supporters and the players.

For fans and those interested who want to follow the events around Rapid Vienna, there is a new option: the rapid! PayCard® Mastercard®, which is offered in cooperation with Green Dot Bank. This prepaid card can be used anywhere debit cards are accepted, giving fans a convenient payment method for their everyday expenses.

The joy of football remains unbroken, and the next games will show whether Rapid can continue to catch up to the top.