Rapid Vienna: Burgstaller returns, but derby pressure is growing!

Rapid Vienna: Burgstaller returns, but derby pressure is growing!

The football fans in Vienna are sitting on hot coals: Rapid Vienna achieved a 1-1 draw against Grazer AK on the last match day and thus lost important points in the title fight. Janis Antiste gave the Green-Whites the lead, but a controversial penalty in stoppage time resulted in the bitter loss of points. This situation could also infuriate coach Peter Stöger and the fans, as the passive style of play was clearly criticized after the lead. With these points given away, the pressure increases significantly ahead of the eagerly anticipated Vienna derby on September 28th. After the game, Stöger pointed out that the integration of the new arrivals was slow and that there was often a lack of will, concentration and precision. A win in the derby could certainly silence the critics and consolidate the league lead, many observers believe.

Guido Burgstaller, Rapid's former captain and top scorer, will take on a new role. He returns to the club's academy as a striker coach and will also work as an individual coach for the Austrian U19 national team. Burgstaller only ended his active career in the summer, and the step back is seen by many as a reinforcement for the youth department. Rapid is currently leading the league undefeated, but their inconsistent performances cannot be ignored either.

A test of character is coming

The upcoming Vienna derby could be a acid test for the Rapid players. The mood in the team was also clouded after the 2-1 cup victory over Oberwart, because Stöger had also criticized the lack of aggressiveness of his players there. “The league looks completely different if we don’t have the necessary body language on the pitch,” explained the coach. The derby is therefore seen as a test of character for the team because the fans' expectations are high.

Rapid has been able to celebrate some successes in the recent past, most recently winning the 346th Vienna derby 2-1 against arch-rivals Austria. Burgstaller scored his first goal since a serious injury in the 32nd minute and gave the team the early lead. Although Austria equalized in the 78th minute with a controversial penalty, the Rapid team showed fighting spirit: Ercan Kara secured the victory with a header in the 84th minute. With this win, Rapid consolidated their position in the table: They are now in fifth place, four points ahead of Blau-Weiß Linz.

Statistics and prospects

The last few games show a consistently high performance from the team, but, as many experts believe, there will be a lot at stake in the coming month. The structures at Rapid seem to need a lot of optimization in order to keep the fans happy over the long term. Due to the current situation in the league, anything could happen!

What happens next for Rapid Vienna remains exciting. Now it's a matter of whether they can win the derby to appease the critics and demonstrate their own strength. A win could also provide an immensely positive boost until the winter break.