Heroic point against Rapid with two men less!

A goal by Muharem Husković - already in the first minute - was disallowed due to a offside decision. After that, the game was even for a long time before two red cards against James Holland and Matthias Braunöder gave Austria a tough task. The Violets countered with an incredible display of will and were able to celebrate a more than deserved point in the end.

In the 341st Vienna derby, coach Michael Wimmer had to do without Manfred Fischer, who suffered a blow to his foot in training on Saturday. James Holland, who was forced off early in the Cup against St. Anna am Aigen, was back. Lucas Galvão was suspended after his yellow-red card against Altach, and the central defense was formed by Johannes Handl, Marvin Martins and Matteo Meisl. Marvin Potzmann started on the left side of midfield and Muharem Husković started as a center forward.

Rapid struggled in the Cup against Gurten, advancing only after extra time. Coach Zoran Barišić trusted the starting eleven from the last championship match against Sturm Graz against the Violets. Guido Burgstaller was still not in the squad.

Almost a dream start

Andreas Gruber was brought down in the first minute after winning the ball on the halfway line. The free-kick Dominik Fitz circulated to Muki Husković, who pushed the ball over the line. But since Gruber touched the ball in between, Husković was offside - the goal was disallowed after a four-minute VAR check (1st). Rapid's first shot on goal was fired by Marco Grüll, Christian Früchtl was on the spot (8th). Gruber put a corner kick by Fitz next to the goal (21st) - otherwise the first half hour was rather quiet after the excitement at the beginning.

A Potzmann flick missed the goal - the ball was deflected, there was no corner kick (31st). Andi Gruber tried a long shot, but just missed the target (45th). After a pass from Reinhold Ranftl, Gruber appeared alone in front of Niklas Hedl, but failed to beat the Rapid goalkeeper. The game went into the break with 0-0.

Two reds against the violets

Austria started strong again in half two. However, a header by Gruber was too weak, and another header by Husković missed the goal (46th, 47th). On the other side, Leopold Querfeld had a good header after a corner kick (48th). After that, it came thick and fast for Violet: Within two minutes, James Holland saw the yellow-red card, Matthias Braunöder the red card - the Veilchen had to endure 30 minutes in a 9-against-11 shorthanded.

Michael Wimmer brought on Aleksandar Jukić for Muki Husković, Rapid had a chance through Nikolas Sattlberger, but his header went wide (62nd). Dominik Fitz was felled by Maximilian Hofmann as the last man after a counterattack, this time referee Alexander Harkam left it at a yellow card (65th). Manuel Polster replaced Dominik Fitz with fifteen minutes left to play in the sold-out Generali Arena.

The visitors from Hütteldorf had the majority of the ball in the final phase, but the Violets fought sacrificially, clear scoring chances for Rapid remained scarce. Chris Früchtl only had to show his skills against substitute Thierry Gale in the 86th minute. Another shot by the newcomer from Barbados went wide (90th).

Austria secured a point against Rapid with two men less and thus remains undefeated against its archrival for 12 games now.

Austria Wien - SK Rapid 0:0

Austria: Früchtl; Handl, Martins, Meisl; Ranftl, Braunöder, Holland, Potzmann; Gruber (88th Guenouche), Husković (58th Jukić), Fitz (74th Polster)

Rapid: Hedl; Kasanwirjo (69th Schick), Querfeld, Hofmann, Auer; Sattlberger, Oswald (83rd Kerschbaum); Kühn (83rd Gale), Seidl, Grüll; Mayulu

Yellow cards: Holland (11th), Martins (40th), Fitz (68th), Früchtl (90th+4); Hofmann (65th), Mayulu (82nd)

Yellow-red card: Holland (52nd)

Red card: Braunöder (54th)

Generali-Arena, referee Alexander Harkam, 15.200 spectators (sold out)