Haris Tabaković leads Austria to derby victory!

The 28-year-old Swiss scored twice in the first half to give the Violets a 2:0 lead. Rapid scored the equaliser through Guido Burgstaller, which made the game even more exciting. Numerous missed chances left the Violets trembling until the end, before Tabaković put the lid on it in the 96th minute. Austria defeated their city rivals 3:1, are undefeated against Rapid since 11 games and take over 4th place in the table.

Michael Wimmer made some selective changes: In central defence, captain Lukas Mühl started in place of Johannes Handl, Doron Leidner celebrated his comeback and replaced Matan Baltaxa on the left wing. Matthias Braunöder was only able to train to a limited extent during the week due to illness, James Holland took his position in central midfield.

Zoran Barišić changed his starting eleven in four positions after the defeat in Salzburg. Martin Moormann, Denso Kasius, Oliver Strunz and Ferdy Druijf replaced Jonas Auer, Thorsten Schick, Moritz Oswald and Marco Grüll.

Haris on Fire

Already in the first minute there was a penalty alert in the visitors' penalty area: Oliver Strunz defended a cross from Dominik Fitz with his outstretched arm, but the referee team around Alexander Harkam saw no reason for a whistle - incomprehensible. After a throw-in by the visitors, Guido Burgstaller had a good chance, but Christian Früchtl made a great save (15th). A bad backpass by Strunz put the Rapid backline in trouble due to the onrushing Haris Tabaković, and a little later the Swiss goal scorer made it 1-0. Tabaković converted a perfectly kicked corner kick by Dominik Fitz with a powerful header (23rd).

The cheers had hardly died down when the almost sold-out Generali-Arena could cheer again. Reinhold Ranftl won the ball on the touchline, a great action via Andreas Gruber and Dominik Fitz ended with Tabaković, who scored his 5th derby goal to make it 2-0 (27.).

In the 340th Vienna derby, the Veilchen were clearly in control of the game, but the guests managed to score a surprising goal in the 36th minute through Guido Burgstaller. Manfred Fischer shot the ball over the goal after another corner by Fitz (42nd), Haris Tabaković missed a great opportunity in injury time after Fitz's pass. A clear foul by Druijf on Fitz in the penalty area was again not whistled for a penalty, the last chance in the eventful injury time was again Tabaković, but he failed to beat Niklas Hedl. Austria went into the dressing room with a narrow 2-1 lead.

Heroic fight in the second half

The Violets were also dominant at the beginning of the second half, Hedl pulled a shot by Andi Gruber out of the short corner (50th). After that, the guests came up a bit, Christian Früchtl was able to distinguish himself with shots from Patrick Greil and Nicolas Kühn (56th, 57th). Haris Tabaković shot over the goal after a Ferserl-assist by James Holland (61st). Hedl and Moormann on the line prevented a third goal for the violets after a triple chance by Tabaković and Holland. Rapid could thank goalkeeper Hedl, the goalkeeper spectacularly defended further attempts by Marvin Martins and Andreas Gruber (72nd, 75th).

After 77 minutes Aleksandar Jukić replaced the tireless Andreas Gruber, Matthias Braunöder came on for James Holland a little later. Shortly before the end, Michael Wimmer substituted Nikola Dovedan for Dominik Fitz. In the 86th minute Guido Burgstaller missed alone in front of Früchtl. Austria defended the lead with all their might and in the 96th minute Haris Tabaković sealed the deal with his third goal.

Austria beat Rapid 3-1 and celebrated their third derby win this season!

FK Austria Wien - SK Rapid Wien 3:1 (2:1)

Austria: Früchtl; Mühl, Martins, Meisl; Ranftl, Fischer, Holland (80th Braunöder), Leidner; Gruber (77th Jukić), Fitz (85th Dovedan), Tabaković

Rapid: Hedl; Kasius, Sollbauer, Wimmer, Moormann (85th Bajic); Greil, Kerschbaum; Kühn, Druijf (58th Zimmermann), Strunz (32nd Grüll); Burgstaller

Goals: Tabaković (23rd, 27th, 90th+6); Burgstaller (36th)

Yellow cards: Holland (21st), Fitz (40th), Tabaković (90th+4); Greil (45th+1), Kühn (52nd), Kerschbaum (74th)

Generali-Arena, referee Alexander Harkam, 14,703 spectators