2-2 in the top clash of the Bundesliga

Austria Wien remain unbeaten against champions and cup winners Sturm Graz this season. Sturm took the lead twice through Seedy Jatta and William Bøving, Nik Prelec and Dominik Fitz equalised both times. The Violets, now without defeat in eleven competitive matches, take a point home to Vienna.

After Sturm was before Sturm, Stephan Helm had no reason to change his team after the win in the Cup. The only planned change: Samuel Şahin-Radlinger returned in goal. However, Mirko Kos was absent anyway with muscular problems and Lukas Wedl took his place on the bench.

Sturm coach Jürgen Säumel made a system change: Fally Mayulu formed a front two with Seedy Jatta, the new signing coming into the team for the suspended Tochi Chukwuani. Otar Kiteishvili moved back into the defensive midfield.

The champions took the lead, Prelec equalised

Both teams played a little more cautiously than in the previous week. The defences stood well and there was no sign of extreme pressing. The champions had more possession, but the Violets had the first chance worth mentioning: Nik Prelec missed a Stangl pass from Reinhold Ranftl by a hair's breadth (19th). Jon Gorenc Stankovič had a shot in the Graz penalty area, but Samuel Şahin-Radlinger deflected it out for a corner. Our number one also made a brilliant save from Niklas Geyrhofer's subsequent long-range effort (21'). A header from Fally Mayulu went over the goal (28'), but shortly afterwards Austria fell behind. Şahin-Radlinger saved a shot from William Bøving, but our keeper was powerless against the follow-up shot from Seedy Jatta. 1-0 for Sturm in the 29th minute.

The Viennese were not deterred and became stronger in offence after conceding the goal. A shot from Maurice Malone hit the far post (36'). A short time later, Matteo Pérez Vinlöf won the ball after a corner and laid it off to Dominik Fitz. Our magician's little foot perfectly directed the cross onto the head of Nik Prelec, Kjell Scherpen in the Styrian goal had no chance against the powerful header, 1-1 (37').

In the 44th minute, Dimitri Lavalée almost scored in his own goal after a corner from Fitz, but the ball hit the crossbar. The game went into the break at 1-1.

Not for the faint-hearted - Fitz equalises again

Matteo Pérez Vinlöf received a yellow card at the start of the second half, meaning the Swede will miss next week's derby. The game began with a wait-and-see approach again, with Gregory Wüthrich clearing from Malone at the last moment, the ball coming from Vinlöf (56'). After a free-kick from Fitz, Johannes Handl lobbed the ball over Scherpen, but unfortunately also over the goal (59'). On the counter-attack, the ball found its way into the Austria box, William Bøving scoring from 30 metres to make it 2-1 for Sturm Graz (60').

The Dane had the 3:1 at his feet, but missed the target after a counter-attack (64'). Stephan Helm made three changes: Pérez Vinlöf, Fischer and Prelec left the pitch and Hakim Guenouche, Andreas Gruber and Marko Raguž came into the team. In the 70th minute, Niklas Geyrhofer brought down Maurice Malone in the penalty area and referee Sebastian Gishamer awarded a penalty after an on-field review. Dominik Fitz scored with ice-cold precision to make it 2-2 (74').

Marvin Potzmann replaced Abubakr Barry ten minutes before the end. Andreas Gruber narrowly missed the target after a Malone cross (88'). Malone then made way for Moritz Wels, who unfortunately failed to make the decisive pass during a counter-attack in stoppage time. As in the first match against the Styrians, Austria drew 2-2.

SK Sturm Graz - Austria Wien 2-2 (1-1)

Sturm: Scherpen; Malić, Geyrhofer, Wüthrich, Lavalée; Gorenc Stankovič, Kiteishvili; Yalcouyé, Bøving (77' Horvat); Jatta, Mayulu (70' Grgic)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl, Dragović, Plavotić; Ranftl, Fischer (69. Gruber), Pérez Vinlöf (69' Guenouche); Fitz, Barry (81' Potzmann); Malone (88' Wels), Prelec (69' Raguž)

Goals: Jatta (29'), Bøving (60'); Prelec (37'), Fitz (74', penalty)

Yellow cards: Geyrhofer (73'); Pérez Vinlöf (47', Potzmann (90+3')

Merkur Arena, referee Sebastian Gishamer, 15,177 spectators