Away win at Sturm Graz!

Following in the footsteps of the women's team, the men also celebrated a 1-0 away win at Sturm Graz. Johannes Eggestein scored the decisive goal in the 22nd minute, giving Austria their third consecutive win against the reigning champions.

Head coach Stephan Helm made only one change ahead of the match against champions Sturm Graz. Maurice Malone, who had left the club for Graz, was replaced by Manprit Sarkaria. Otherwise, the starting eleven remained unchanged, with Tin Plavotić still out with an ankle injury, as was Kang Hee Lee.

Sturm coach Jürgen Säumel brought Malone on from the start, while Otar Kiteishvili and Jon Gorenc Stankovič (substitute bench) were unavailable for the Styrians this time. Jacob Hödl, who made his starting eleven debut, and Stefan Hierländer were two other new additions to the team compared to the 3-0 win against city rivals GAK.

Eggestein scores his first Bundesliga goal for the Violets

Sturm had more of the play at the start, but it was the Violets who had the first big chances. Johannes Eggestein and Sanel Šaljić had only one opponent to beat after a quick counterattack, but failed to finish it off (11'). Shortly afterwards, Sarkaria appeared in front of goalkeeper Oliver Christensen after a pass from Reinhold Ranftl, but put the ball millimetres wide of the goal (16'). The home team's first shot by Tochi Chukwuani went well wide (20'), after which the numerous Austria fans who had travelled with the team were able to cheer. A long throw-in by Taeseok Lee reached Johannes Eggestein via Abubakr Barry and Manprit Sarkaria, who beautifully sank the ball into the far corner (22').

Sturm scored the supposed equaliser after a free kick by Dimitri Lavalée, but it was disallowed due to a handball (30'). A shot from Seedy Jatta went wide of the goal (43'). Šaljić pounced on a saved shot from Lee, but was clearly offside (45+2'). The purple defence around Aleksandar Dragović, who was playing his 100th Bundesliga game, stood firm, and Austria went into the break with a narrow 1-0 lead.

Defensively stable - Austria wins again at Sturm

Sturm started the second half strongly, with Samuel Şahin-Radlinger confidently parrying Jacob Hödl's first shot at the near post (47'). However, Austria remained dangerous, with a shot from Šaljić being blocked and Lee's subsequent attempt going wide (52'). A header from Eggestein following a free kick from Sarkaria went wide (56').

Noah Botić replaced goalscorer Johannes Eggestein after an hour, and the game became increasingly frantic. Lavalée sent a header over the bar (68'). Konstantin Aleksa came on for Sanel Šaljić in the closing stages. A Botić shot was blocked, and Christensen saved Barry's follow-up (77').

Shortly before the end, Luca Pazourek and Philipp Maybach came on, with Ranftl and Sarkaria having finished their day's work. The Graz team had no more notable chances towards the end of the game, and Austria ultimately prevailed 1-0 after a hard-fought battle.

SK Sturm Graz - Austria Wien 0-1 (0-1)

Sturm: Christensen; Oermann (60' Bendra), Aiwu, Lavalée, Karic; Hödl (84' Beck), Chukwuani, Horvat, Hierländer (60' Rózga); Malone (76' Beganović), Jatta (60' Grgic)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Radonjić, Dragović, Wiesinger; Ranftl (88' Pazourek), Fischer, Barry, Taeseok Lee; Šaljić (73' Aleksa); Eggestein (64' Botić), Sarkaria (88' Maybach)

Goal: Eggestein (22')

Yellow cards: Chukwuani (51'), Grgic (79'); Barry (45'), Šaljić (69'), Fischer (81')

Merkur Arena, referee Markus Hameter, 16,856 spectators