Sturm Graz before defense of the title: Heartbeat final on weekends!

Sturm Graz before defense of the title: Heartbeat final on weekends!

The weekend is just around the corner and the tension in the Austrian Bundesliga is tangible. Sturm Graz has the chance to defend the championship title next Sunday against Rapid Vienna. They are currently leading the championship race with 39 points after 30 rounds, three points in front of the Wolfsberger AC (WAC), which is in second place with 36 points. After a defeat in the derby, Austria Vienna has little chance of the title and is in third place with 33 points. The time pressure increases because the end of the season is closer.

Sturm Graz could secure the championship for the fifth time in club history with another point in the game against Rapid Vienna. A total of over 5,000 supporters of the Graz Stadium in Vienna are expected, which is reminiscent of the last major away games. Should Sturm lose points, a heartbeat final threatens on the last matchday of the season when there is a decisive meeting.

The decisive games

On Sunday there are two key games on the program: While Sturm Graz competes against Rapid, the WAC has to win against Austria Vienna to force the championship title. The WAC is the only team in the master group that has so far remained unbeaten, and if both storms and WAC win their games, the duel between the two clubs on May 24th in Liebenau will be trend -setting. It becomes clear that the master can only be crowned by two consecutive victories.

The starting position is exciting: If Sturm Graz wins, a victory and a draw from the last two rounds would be enough to defend the championship. In contrast, the WAC needs a win in the last round against storm to get the double, should the WAC win the upcoming game. The list of the team and the tactics therefore play a crucial role, especially in the assessment of the coach of Sturm Graz, Jürgen Saumel, who clearly focuses on the upcoming game.

historical context

The history of Austrian football shows that the championship title was competitive by several clubs from 1911/1912 to 2023/2024. The Statista article illustrates the success of various teams in the Bundesliga, including Rapid Vienna, which is traditionally among the strongest clubs. The championship is not only a title, but also a sign of dominance in the Austrian football landscape.

The last two rounds of the season promise to be extremely exciting for both fans and players. In view of the current table situation, the decision about the championship title could already be made on Sunday, or the race will surprisingly remain exciting until the last minute.