Rapid Vienna in the second leg: Stöger's team fights for UEFA dreams!

Rapid Vienna in the second leg: Stöger's team fights for UEFA dreams!

On Thursday Rapid Vienna will play against ETO Györ FC at 7:00 p.m. to turn around the 1:2 from the first leg. Head coach Peter Stöger is optimistic about his team's chances, which need to improve significantly after a disappointing performance in the first game. In the first leg, the Viennese had difficulties on a bad pitch and were passive in the first half. Nevertheless, Stöger emphasizes that the result from the first leg does not pose a problem for the second leg as the team now has to win the game. On Sunday, Rapid was able to send a positive signal in the championship and beat WAC 2-1.

Nikolaus Wurmbrand, who scored the goal in the first game for Rapid, was called up for the ÖFB A team squad. All players are fit, apart from the long-term injuries, which significantly improves the situation for Rapid. New signing Martin Ndzie in particular could make his debut in the second leg, while Marco Tilio is not yet eligible to play.

Opportunities for advancement and the consequences of leaving

Rapid's elimination in the play-offs would not only have an immediate impact on the UEFA rankings, but could also have a lasting impact on the mood in the team. Rapid Vienna made a decisive contribution to the UEFA five-year rankings last season; Non-participation could therefore worsen the starting position for the Austrian clubs in the coming years. The participation rate for next season depends heavily on how the teams perform in Europe and could have serious consequences for Austrian football as a whole due to the current situation.

In the first leg against ETO Györ, the Viennese were only more active in the second half. After a goalless draw at half-time, Rapid fell 1-0 behind when Zeljko Gavric scored in the 46th minute. Nikolaus Wurmbrand equalized in the 61st minute, but Gavric secured the victory for Györ in the 82nd minute. Rapid were inaccurate offensively in the first half, so Stöger made two changes in the second half, with Wurmbrand and Claudy Mbuyi coming onto the pitch. Despite these changes, the team was unable to turn the game around in the final stages. Wurmbrand then expressed his disappointment with the points lost and the team's defensive performance.

The coming days will be crucial for Rapid, not only for promotion to the next round of the UEFA Europa Conference League, but also for the entire season. Stöger's job is to improve the performance of his players and optimally prepare the team for the upcoming second leg. The European stage offers not only sporting but also financial incentives, which are of utmost importance for the clubs.

The second leg will therefore be of essential importance not only for Rapid Vienna, but also for the Austrian football landscape.

Laola1 reports that...

The press informed about…

5-year rating provides information about…