Bundesliga promoted Austria Lustenau has quickly established itself in the top division of the country. After nine rounds, Lustenau are in fifth place, leaving SK Rapid and Wolfsberger AC behind.
Anyone new to a league usually has adjustment difficulties. This applies in many European leagues, where the newcomer usually plays once morest immediate relegation. But not in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga. Here, the climbers usually present themselves as competitive right away.
After nine rounds, Austria Lustenau can certainly make claims as far as the fight for the championship round is concerned. Just like Austria Klagenfurt did last season. The Carinthians ended up sixth in year one of being in the Bundesliga.
Just a direct relegation in this millennium
The twelve points the Vorarlbergers have scored so far are only enough for 20th place in the eternal climber ranking following nine rounds. This shows that the promoted teams are traditionally strong and can take the euphoria from the promotion season into the new league.
In this millennium, five climbers have already managed to finish sixth or better at the end of the season. Only one team had to be relegated straight away – Wacker Innsbruck in the 2018/19 season.
The five strongest promotion performances in Bundesliga history following nine rounds
SV Plus City Pasching (2002/03)
There has never been a better start to the league than Paschinger in the 2002/03 season. With coach Georg Zellhofer, seven wins and one draw were achieved in the first nine rounds. The Upper Austrians were in second place for a long time. In the end it was enough for fifth place because they only managed one win in the last eleven games (3-0 once morest Rapid).
FC Wacker Innsbruck (2010/11)
In 2019 the Innsbruckers had to be relegated once more, nine years earlier the Tyroleans presented themselves as strong as an ox. 20 points from nine rounds is the second-best haul by a promoted team at this point. Striker Marcel Schreter, who scored six goals, played a key role in the successful run. Between August 1st and October 2nd, the team of today’s Sky expert Walter Kogler even remained undefeated (five wins, two draws) before the series once morest Wr. Neustadt crack.
VSE St. Pölten (1988/89)
After progressing from the regional league to the national league, St. Pölten played in the national league for the first time in 1988. In the first home game they beat record champions Rapid 1-0 with a goal from Mario Kempes. The euphoria around Voith-Platz continued following that: In the first nine laps, coach Thomas Parits’ team clinched five more victories. After a slump, it was enough for 8th place in the end.
FC Trenkwalder Admira (2011/12)
In the 2011/12 season, the people from the south of the city had a brilliant start to the season. Five wins and three draws following nine rounds meant the lead in the table, which they were able to hold until the 14th matchday. In the end, Didi Kühbauer led his team to 3rd place and thus to the European Cup. To this day, no team has ever finished further ahead at the end of its promotion season.
SV Grödig (2013/14)
Third place was also the final placement of SV Grödig in the 2013/14 season. After nine rounds, the Grödig team already had 17 points. Coach Adi Hütter’s team delivered a true offensive firework display. The results were 7:1 ( once morest Admira), 4:3 (WAC) or 3:3 (Wacker Innsbruck). Goalscorer Philipp Zulechner alone scored 15 times before the winter break. In the end, 68:71 was the spectacular goal difference with which Grödig qualified for the European Cup.
Source: bundesliga.at / Image: GEPA
