At the start of the new season in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga, Austria Wien were beaten 1-0 away to FC Blau-Weiß Linz. After creating more chances in the first half, Seidl put the home side ahead after the break, but Cristiano's supposed equalizer was disallowed.

Coach Stephan Helm made a slight change to his team compared to the European Cup match against FC Ilves on Wednesday. Matteo Pérez Vinlöf and Nik Prelec were new to the team, Hakim Guenouche and captain Manfred Fischer were not in the starting eleven, with the former not even being in the squad after his injury-related substitution. Dominik Fitz moved one position back alongside Abubakr Barry, with Prelec taking over his position.

More chances in the first half

The game got off to an extremely eventful start in an excellent atmosphere, with Alem Pašić heading against the crossbar in the very first minute - luck for Austria. But Andreas Gruber & Co also quickly created the first dangerous chances, Fitz from the edge of the box (5') and Prelec once with a header (6') and once with a powerful finish (9'), both of which were saved by Linz goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.

After an attack down the right, Pérez Vinlöf's shot was blocked (20'), only a few moments and an attack later Gruber headed over (20'), but Schmid did not have to intervene. At the other end, Ronivaldo headed over from close range after a free-kick from the corner flag (23). Prelec had the best chance of the first half after Fitz crossed from a free-kick, but his header was too central and fell easily for Schmid (35'). Samuel Şahin-Radlinger was then called into action in stoppage time with a dangerously deflected cross, but the Violet goalkeeper was on hand to make a strong save (45+1).

After the break, it was once again the home side who had the first chance - and again it was highly dangerous. Substitute Lukas Ibertsberger had time on the left and played a pinpoint pass to the middle for Conor Noß, but the German-Irishman was unable to get the ball into the net as he slid in (49'). Shortly afterwards, Maurice Malone tried a shot to the near corner, but Schmid was alert and was not taken by surprise (53').

Two scenes, two VAR checks - one goal for Linz

After a rather quiet phase in the game, the Linzer then scored the opening goal. After a long ball from goalkeeper Schmid, Simon Seidl - after a long VAR check - was not offside and gave Şahin-Radlinger no chance with his powerful finish (78'). Shortly before, substitute Muharem Husković had cleared on the line from a corner (77').

The equalizer was then in the air shortly before the end of normal time, when Husković ideally served Cristiano, who had also come into the game, and the Brazilian skilfully lifted the ball over Schmid (88'). It then became confusing: Anderson made a last-ditch effort to clear the ball - but it remained unclear whether the save was made in time before the ball crossed the line at full stretch. The VAR also checked this scene, but was unable to resolve it due to a lack of suitable camera angles. As a result, the decision on the pitch stood - no goal.

The Violets threw everything forward once again in stoppage time, but the equalizer would not come. Austria were beaten at Blau-Weiß Linz to kick off the new Bundesliga season.

Blau-Weiß Linz - Austria Wien 1:0 (0:0)

Linz: Schmid - Anderson (Soares 90+1'), Maranda ©, Moormann, Pirkl (Ibertsberger 46') - Pašić, Briedl - Goiginger (Seidl 70'), Dobras (Gölles 81'), Noß - Ronivaldo (Schmidt 70')

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger - Potzmann (Wels 81'), Plavotić, Galvão - Ranftl ©, Barry (Fischer 65'), Fitz, Pérez Vinlöf (Pazourek 81') - Gruber, Prelec (Cristiano 70'), Malone (Husković 65')

Goal: Seidl 78'

Yellow: Ronivaldo 31', Pirkl 33', Moormann 90+2'; Gruber 53', Barry 57', Prelec 64', Potzmann 72', Fitz 86'

Hofmann Personal Stadion, 5,595 spectators; referee Harkam