Jagd auf den Red Bull

Magnificent result, now to finish off the group stage phase with another win against Basel in the final fixture

1.12.19, Christopher Steegmann: ”The boys have responded to that defeat against Salzburg exactly how I wanted them to, by rallying and pushing on and putting together an extremely positive position and we’re up into second. We’ve now won all five of the Bundesliga games since that disappointing defeat including all three this month and we’ve played some very good football even though we’ve never really been able to put out our best starting XI week in week out. It’s testament to how strong this squad is because we’ve picked up some really good results with quite a few players in the physio’s room rather than on the pitch. We were expected to beat Floridsdorfer comfortably and perhaps it was disappointing to have conceded a goal to a side that are now really starting to struggle. Following on from that disappointing defeat to Standard Liege the boys responded really well by going on to beat Rheindorf Altach in a big game in the Bundesliga and finally we might be beginning to see the best of Blessing Eleke now which bodes really well for us moving forward. We deserved more from the St. Polten game in terms of goals scored but the performance against Olympiakos was incredible and we’ve picked up a huge three points in our bid to qualify from our Europa League group.”

Comments

ScottT: It’s a stunning result against a team that have caused big problems for big sides in Europe in recent years! To have it in our hands though is excellent!

Justice: Why thank you

tenthreeleader: BOOM!

Griffo: Yes boyyyy

Jack: Qualifying would be an incredible achievement because we’re so unfancied in the grand scheme of things but I’m confident we can get the result we need

Last Update: #2.23 Die Vielchen Hammer Olympiakos To Take Destiny To Matchday 6
Next Update: #2.25 Die Vielchen Put Four Past Basel To Take Top Spot

Cracking results which are much needed to keep in touch with Salzburg. A four point gap isn't too difficult to claw back, let's just hope you get a bit of luck!

What's that in the sky? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is Austria Wien soaring towards the top of the table!

How the F have RB only conceded 4?! That is ridiculous!

Jack good spot, that is absolutely crazy!

Die Vielchen Put Four Past Basel To Take Top Spot

FC Basel: J Omlin, S Widmer, L Lacroix, N Sutter, E Alvarez Balanta, L Zuffi (P Kasami 81), F Frei, N Ngamaleu (A Kalulu 74), S Campo (N Haas 82), N Okafor, S Tarashaj

Austria Wien: P Pentz, F Klein, M Madl, A Borkovic, C Cuevas (T Ebner 57), Can Keles, U Matic (J Burmeister 87), Lucas Venuto, A Grunwald, D Prokop, B Edomwonyi (K Friesenbichler 76)

Austria Wien sealed their place in the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Swiss side FC Basel on Matchday 6 of the Group Stages. At a venue where Die Vielchen were widely expected to struggle, especially with qualification for the knockout rounds hanging in the balance, Christopher Steegmann’s side put in a stunning away day performance to earn a well deserved victory and take top spot in Group H. It was a big achievement for Steegmann in his first ever European campaign as a manager and also means Austria will face one of the unseeded sides in the next stage and meaning that Die Vielchen will definitely play the second leg against any opposition at the Generali Arena in the next round.

After the 0-0 draw away in Graz at the weekend, Austria Wien knew that the pressure was on them to produce a good performance here in Basel if their European adventure was to continue into the new year. Steegmann had said in his pre-match press conference that he expected his side to play the same high pressing style that they had done in the first game between the two sides at the Generali Arena that ended in the two teams sharing the points in a 1-1 draw, but wanted to see his side become more clinical in front of goal and they certainly did just that at St. Jakobs Park. Once again a front four of Lucas Venuto, Alexander Grunwald, Dominik Prokop and Bright Edomwonyi proved too much for the opposition they were facing as the quartet were a menace to the Basel defence and laid the foundations for the performance that ultimately sent Die Vielchen through to the next round.

It was the Brazilian Lucas Venuto, who was so sorely missed from the first team whilst out injured earlier in the season that broke the deadlock in an important game as he dribbled through a maze of Basel defenders and into the penalty area. Once inside the 18 yard box the winger lashed a beautiful left footed effort in off the underside of the crossbar which gave Jonas Omlin in the Basel goal no chance of saving it before bouncing over the line to make it 1-0. The visitors were creating chances in Switzerland but a lack of clinical finishing in the first half cost them dear as Steegmann’s side could have been out of sight if the ball could just have been put over the line, but at half time the score remained 1-0.

However in the second half, the game exploded. Noah Okafor equalised with a goal against the run of play for the hosts, as he tapped home a low driven cross from Lucas Campo to deal a bitter blow to Die Vielchen as their hopes of topping the group were suddenly dashed, especially with Standard Liege beating Olympiakos comfortably in Greece. However with the clock ticking down, a powerful effort from Alexander Grunwald was deflected into his own goal by Luca Zuffi with 14 minutes left to play and the floodgates opened for the visitors. Kevin Friesenbichler had soon scored his third goal of the season with a clinical finish after being slipped through on goal, and after Eder Alvarez Balanta was sent off for a second yellow card, club captain Alexander Grunwald became the teams top goalscorer this season with a brilliantly hit free kick from the edge of the area which flew past Omlin to seal a memorable victory for Austria Wien in Switzerland.

It was a win that banished the disappointment of the 3-0 defeat to Standard Liege that left Die Vielchen’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages in the balance and Christopher Steegmann and the Austria Wien fans have every right to be delighted with their side after they put five past Olympiakos and four past Basel on Matchdays 5 and 6 to ensure that they qualified in top spot from Group H. Austria Wien will of course then play in the Round of 32, with the second leg guaranteed to be at home by virtue of winning the group. The draw for the First Knockout Round will be made on Monday, December 16th in Nyon with the first leg of the tie being played Thursday 13th February 2020 and the return leg being played Thursday 20th February 2020.

Comments

ScottT: It’s not the end of the world being four points behind and we’re definitely more than capable of catching them so we’ve got to stay positive and keep doing our thing

Justice: Yes, yes it is!

Jack: The ability to spend big (in Bundesliga terms) and afford the best team this league has likely ever seen

Griffo: Just a tad crazy!

Last Update: #2.24 Month In Focus: November
Next Update: #2.26 Die Vielchen To Meet Zorya In Knockout Stages

Die Vielchen To Meet Zorya In Knockout Stages

Austria Wien today discovered their opponents in the Round of 32 stage of the UEFA Europa League today, with Christopher Steegmann being tasked to take his side to the Ukraine if they are to progress into the last 16 of the competition. Die Vielchen will travel 866 miles to Zaporizhya to face Prem’er Liha side Zorya in the two legged affair in the Round of 32, with the first leg to be played away in the Ukrainian’s sides temporary home, the Slavutych Arena before Steegmann and co. will welcome Zorya to the Generali Arena a week later.

With the two games being played on 13th and 20th February, Die Vielchen will now turn their attentions to their preparation for the first leg with the Bundesliga now on its winter break, and will face Erste Liga side Liefering in a mid-season friendly on the 8th February, just five days before. However Steegmann and his coaching staff will have a full week to prepare for the return leg at the Generali Arena, with Austria hoping that they can secure a positive result away in the Ukraine heading into the second leg at the Generali Arena and the chance to play in front of their own fans once more.

With the ongoing conflict in the East of the Ukraine, Zorya, founded and based in Luhansk, one of the host cities for UEFA Euro 2012, Zorya play their games in Zaporizhya, making a hostile atmosphere for any visiting team with the Ukrainian’s having made the stadium their own over the last couple of years. Drawn in Group H, Zorya finished second in the four team table, ahead of Norwegian side Rosenborg and Kazakhstani team Astana and having put in spirited performances in 2-0 defeats to Spanish side Athletic Club Bilbao both home and away and they will represent stern opposition for Steegmann and Die Vielchen, although the German manager will be confident of progression into the last 16.

Details of the full draw for the Round of 32 in the Europa League can be found below.


Last Update: #2.25 Die Vielchen Put Four Past Basel To Take Top Spot
Next Update: #2.27 Month In Focus: December

Nothing is certain in football, but what I will say is that you should be thankful that the draw didn't pit you against one of the UCL fallouts or one of the stronger European sides coming through from the group stages. Zorya is a kind draw for this stage and I fully expect your wisdom to get you through to the last 16

Firstly, congratulations on qualification. It's a favourable draw, personally, given some of the teams in the competition. There's some absolutely cracking ties in the mix. No reason you can't get past Zorya into the next round, but you've done fantastically to get to this point. Anything extra is magnificent.

1.1.19, Christopher Steegmann: ”We’ve continued our fine form since the defeat to Salzburg back in October with another three big results in December and we’re now just the four points behind Salzburg heading into the winter break. It was after the winter break that things went wrong for us last season but this season we look and feel different, we’re being far more pragmatic and winning games when during that rough and winning games with a rotated side because we’re rotating the side a lot this season. The wins over Wolfsberger and Mattersburg showed how well we can play though, attacking really well and scoring plenty of goals and we were unfortunate to draw with Sturm Graz and should have scored goals and I guess we should just put it down as a bad day in front of goal. To have progressed in the Europa League when the odds seemed against us at one stage is another huge bonus and shows what this squad can do and the togetherness in the team so we are very happy at the end of this month. The team can go away and enjoy their winter breaks now but you can rest assured we will push heavily in the second half of the campaign to try and meet the same standards and achieve our ambitions.”

Comments

Jack: Yeah we definitely got away with things a bit in the draw, but I think we could have given some of the teams dropping out of the CL a real run for their money but the Zorya draw definitely gives us a chance of qualifying for the next round

ScottT: You’re 100% right anything from this point onwards is a welcome bonus, just hope it doesn’t detract from our league form!

Last Update: #2.26 Die Vielchen To Meet Zorya In Knockout Stages
Next Update: #2.28 Grunwald: We've Proven How Strong This Squad Is

Incredible win over Basel to seal your place in the KO rounds, where you'll play a Zorya side you probably feel you can beat! I'd say the nerves are creeping into the RB Salzburg camp, knowing you're not going to let up any ground. Keep up the pressure, they'll crack.

A shame you couldn't defeat the lowly Sturm Graz, but certainly made up for it with that Mattersburg win! Getting to that point in the season when the pressure needs to be built up on RB so consistency is key at this point

That draw to Graz will be disappointing, as it was a chance to close the gap to Salzburg. However, there will be plenty more opportunities, in my opinion, to do so and hope shouldn't be lost yet.

Backing you here MG, nothing like taking a team who wears purple to success