Bitter 0:1 against Villarreal

There are days when football takes a back seat. But the young Austria team delivered a top performance a few hours after the terrible news surrounding Muharem Husković and only had to admit defeat to the Spanish top team due to a very late goal conceded by Jackson Nicolas in the 87th minute.

Manfred Schmid had to do without Husković, captain Lukas Mühl and Marvin Martins. Reinhold Ranftl, Lucas Galvão and Matteo Meisl started in a three-man defensive line, supported on the flanks by Georg Teigl and Manuel Polster. Manfred Fischer and Matthias Braunöder formed the control centre, Andreas Gruber, Dominik Fitz and Aleksandar Jukić the offensive.

Villarreal CF started in a 4-4-2 system, with legend Pepe Reina in goal. Giovani Lo Celso and Arnaut Danjuma started in the attack, the three-goal scorer from the first leg - Jose Morales - was again on the bench.

Austria kept up well

Austria started bravely, trying to get behind the Spanish defence with quick passes to the front. The first good action was initiated by Manuel Polster with a strong advance on the left side. Andreas Gruber got the ball, but his cross was cleared for a corner (4th minute). In the 9th minute the crowd rose to send greetings to our number 9 in hospital. A lob by Gruber landed just beside the goal (13.). Georg Teigl was clearly pushed in the penalty area by Johan Mojica, but referee Georgi Kabakov from Bulgaria could not see a punishable offence (23.).

Villarreal were dangerous for the first time in the 27th minute, but Arnaut Danjuma's shot went well over. Another shot by the Dutchman also went over the goal, a header missed (36th, 39th). The newly formed back line of the Veilchen allowed little, so it went into the cabins with a 0:0.

Late goal hit the heart of the Violets

The visitors from Spain started the second half with a lot of ball possession, Austria tried to set pinpricks. Aleksandar Jukić scored one, but his shot was saved by Reina (51). After an hour, Manfred Schmid brought on James Holland and Can Keles for Jukić and Gruber. The Violets also became more courageous offensively, the agile Polster made a lot of steam on the left side.

After a questionable free kick at the edge of the penalty area, Lo Celso finished, but the ball went over the goal (74.). Can Keles forced Reina into a brilliant save with a superb shot (77). The Spanish goalkeeper also had to stretch himself with a free kick by Manfred Fischer (86th). Ibrahima Drame made his debut for the team in the final phase, Dominik Fitz left the pitch.

Just when the 11,000 spectators at Viola Park were expecting a draw, Villarreal struck again. Substitute Jackson Nicolas scored in the 87th minute after an assist from Morales, who also came on as a substitute, to make it 0:1. Haris Tabaković came on for Georg Teigl and had the chance to equalise in the 90th minute, but his header from Braunöder's free kick was too central. In the end, Austria had to admit defeat to a self-sacrificingly fighting Austria.

FK Austria Wien - Villarreal CF 0:1 (0:0)

Austria: Früchtl; Ranftl, Galvão, Meisl; Teigl (90. Braunöder, Fischer, Polster; Gruber (64. Keles), Fitz (82. Drame), Jukić (64. Holland)

Villarreal: Reina; Mandi, Albiol (46. Pau Torres), Cuenca Barreno, Mojica; Chukwueze (68. Pino), Morlanes, Coquelin (57. Morales), Álex Baena; Lo Celso (79. Capoue), Danjuma (57. Nicolas)

Goal: Nicolas (87.)

Yellow cards: Ranftl (26.), Polster (67.); Lo Celso (67.), Nicolas (78.), Morlanes (86.), Álex Baena (90.+1)

Viola Park, referee Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria), 11,000 spectators