2023-08-27 03:23:24
Red Bull Salzburg and Sturm Graz will also set the tone at the top in the new Bundesliga season. The series champions faltered at WAC on Saturday, but scored their fifth win in five games with a 2-1 win. The Grazers are only two points behind after their fourth success, their triumph against the still winless and at the bottom of the table promoted Blau-Weiss Linz was ultimately safe.
“In the end we shot it with a lot of power, impact and faith,” analyzed Salzburg coach Gerhard Struber. For the first time, his team had to catch up after conceding only 5-1 in Hartberg. Samson Baidoo equalized with a header after a corner kick (60′). “Coming back into the game from a set piece was important,” said Struber. In the end, the decisive factor was the greater quality of the players. The winning goal (73rd) resulted from a great combination of the “jokers” Fernando and Sekou Koita, who finished ice cold.
“When you see what we can bring off the bench, that’s great and a luxurious situation, but you have to deal with it smartly because some people don’t always get a chance,” said Salzburg’s coach. After his short comeback in Hartberg, captain Andreas Ulmer was allowed to play for a half. Also due to the continuing major personnel problems, it is to be expected that the 37-year-old will soon return to the starting XI.
Ulmer described it as important “to get 45 minutes on your feet again”. He’s looking forward to more playing time. “The large squad we have will be important for success in the season,” stressed Ulmer. Three “deserved and important” points were scored against Wolfsberger. The defensive veteran saw some pluses, but also minuses, such as the end and a “end where we could have finished it more calmly”.
Struber also identified potential for improvement. “We still have to improve our remaining defense to simply not allow any chances. We want to take this step next.” You can prove that on Sunday against Rapid. A completely different highlight awaits beforehand, as the “Bulls” will find out about their three opponents in the Champions League on Thursday.
In the league, Sturm remains the first hunter, in the 7th round (September 16th) there will be the first duel of the season in Graz. Styrians’ 4:1 against Blau-Weiss resulted in a successful farewell party for Jakob Jantscher, despite a long idle phase. In a white shirt with black writing (“I’ll go with you wherever you want – even to the end of this world”) and with emotional words, the identification figure said goodbye to the Graz attachment. Jantscher didn’t have much more playing time in prospect under Ilzer and, at the age of 34, dared to take the step abroad again. He is set to return to the club in a different capacity following his Hong Kong adventure. “Playing 250 games for a club is no longer a matter of course in today’s fast-moving football world,” Ilzer recalled.
Alexander Prass is also likely to leave Graz by the transfer deadline on Friday. Sport managing director Andreas Schicker spoke of concrete negotiations, the rumored interest from SC Freiburg was neither confirmed nor denied. Schicker told Sky about the price tag for the ÖFB team player: “We must not all become megalomaniacs in Graz because we have now sold two players in the double-digit million range.” If Prass goes, Sturm will get a new one.
Despite a 2-0 lead after seven minutes, things didn’t go to plan for the runners-up on the pitch. David Affengruber ended the previous goal suspension with his own goal to make it 1:2 (54 th ) and thus provided a kind of “wake-up call” (Ilzer) in the game. Four-time goalscorer Szymon Wlodarczyk and recovered manprit Sarkaria secured the well-deserved victory in the end.
However, the people of Linz continue to present themselves as the weakest climber for some time. The courageous approach has so far resulted in just one point (3:3 against Hartberg) and 5:16 goals. Gerald Scheiblehner made a composed impression, he rather located a step in the right direction. “We absorb setbacks together, that makes us strong. Victories will come and we will be able to laugh,” emphasized the coach. When asked if he still wanted reinforcements, Scheiblehner replied: “Talking about things that are not possible is wasted energy.”
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