Sturm Graz triumphs in the 200th derby – Rapid and Austria follow on the rise

Sturm Graz triumphs in the 200th derby – Rapid and Austria follow on the rise

At the Allianz Stadium in Vienna, the spectators experienced an exciting football game in which Rapid triumphed with a 2-1 win against Hartberg. In front of 19,500 fans, the team secured their third competitive win in a row. Rapid showed fighting spirit from the start and initially dominated the game. In the 15th minute, Dion Beljo gave Hütteldorfer the lead before Tobias Kainz equalized for Hartberg just six minutes later.

The guests' equalizer came as a bit of a surprise as Rapid had the better chances at that point. Particularly in the second half, Hartberg pushed for a turnaround, but luck eluded the Styrians. The decisive goal for Rapid came in the 85th minute from substitute Noah Bischof, who then secured the victory. A close moment occurred in the 61st minute when Rapid keeper Niklas Hedl spectacularly blocked a header from Donis Avdijaj, with images showing the ball may not have fully crossed the goal line.

Review of the season

With this victory, Rapid was also able to take a kind of revenge for the two home defeats against Hartberg last season. This is an important step as the team now remains unbeaten in nine competitions. Today's performance not only offers fresh motivation, but also an optimal dress rehearsal for the upcoming home game in the Conference League against FC Noah.

In another game, Vienna Austria beat Austria Klagenfurt and climbed into the top half of the table. The victory came after a narrow but deserved performance and was decided by a goal from Andreas Gruber in the 77th minute. This was the Viennese's first away win in a long time and indicates a positive trend, with a total of 15 points in the account.

An important moment of the encounter at the Wörthersee Stadium was a controversial incident in which a handball by Klagenfurt defender Jannik Robatsch while blocking a header was not punished with a penalty. This led to discussions, particularly as VAR technology was not consulted for clarification.

situation in the league

In the Tyrolean game between LASK and its opponents from Wattens, LASK consolidated its upward trend and with this victory also remains unbeaten in its last six games. A particularly exciting goal was from LASK player Cem Üstündag, who scored from 50 meters after seeing the opposing keeper standing too far in front of the goal. Despite this nice goal, it was a rather quiet second half with few penalty area scenes.

The Watteners still had to wait for a win in their own stadium, while LASK fought its way to the top places in the table, especially after a strong coaching change. LASK's next game will also take place in the Conference League, which should further motivate the team.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the league situation will develop as the season progresses, but the recent successes of the Viennese clubs point to an exciting time for football in the region. For more detailed information about the games in the Austrian Bundesliga you can the article on apa.at be read.