Jagd auf den Red Bull

Edomwonyi Strike Draws Die Vielchen Level At Top

Austria Wien: P Pentz, F Klein, M Madl, A Borkovic (Tarkan Serbest 74), C Cuevas, D Cancola (U Matic 72), J Jeggo, Lucas Venuto, A Grunwald, B Eleke, B Edomwonyi (K Friesenbichler 90)
Red Bull Salzburg: C Stankovic, S Lainer, M Pongracic, Jubal, B Bolingoli (R Yabo 45), Z Junuzovic, X Schagler (L Spendlhofer 78), A Modiba, H Wolf, M Dabbur (S Prevljak 78), E Haland

Bright Edomwonyi’s 14th goal of the season was enough to secure a huge win for Die Vielchen as they beat Red Bull Salzburg 1-0 at the Generali Arena to move level at the top of the Bundesliga table with just five games to go. Despite having lost to Salzburg on Matchday 22 before the league was split in two, Austria Wien have managed to claw back the deficit that was established by Marco Rose’s side in the first five games of the Champions Play Off, and now Christopher Steegmann’s side look capable of going on to win the Bundesliga this season and with five games to go, momentum may well just be in favour of Die Vielchen. It was a tense atmosphere at the Generali Arena, but the Austria Wien players handled the occasion well as they secured a vital victory in their bid to be crowned Champions of Austria.

There is of course another meeting between these two sides to come at the Red Bull Arena in the final game of the season for both teams but for now Austria Wien will be confident with the way they disposed of Salzburg tonight winning the game in a calm controlled manner. Salzburg, although they looked threatening going forward, looked shaky at the back with former Die Vielchen defender Jubal suffering on his return to the Generali Arena, with Bright Edomwonyi causing the Brazilian all sorts of problems with his relentless pressing of the 26 year old central defender.

The home team set out to attack Salzburg from the off with their high intensity and heavy pressing style of play and straight from kick off, Salzburg struggled to deal with the full frontal assault on their backline. However the visitors looked dangerous going forward too with the likes of Zlatko Junuzovic capable of pulling the ball out of nowhere and spraying a inch perfect pass to Dabbur or Haland who led the Salzburg line. However it was Bright Edomwonyi who opened the scoring just a minute before the half time break as he glanced Lucas Venuto’s cross past Stankovic in the Salzburg goal and into the far corner to make it 1-0 and score what proved to be the winning goal.

Both Cican Stankovic and Patrick Pentz were called into action in the second half with both goalkeepers proving why they are such vital components of these two table topping teams but it was Pentz who did his claims for the Goalkeeper of the Year award no harms. The 23 year old was forced into action with just five minutes before full time as Munas Dabbur powered a header towards Die Vielchen’s goal but Pentz made an incredible reactionary save to deny Salzburg an equaliser as Die Vielchen secured a massive victory in their hunt for a 25th Bundesliga title.

As the hunt for the title now heats up even further with just five games to go, Die Vielchen play their penultimate game of the season at the Generali Arena next as LASK Linz visit the capital. Meanwhile Salzburg will travel to Mattersburg for a crunch game in the bid for the title.

Comments

Griffo: Game. On

ScottT: It could be costly but we’re more than good enough to make up for it!

Last Update: #2.39 Pentz: Salzburg Game Could Define Our Season
Next Update: #2.41 Month In Focus: April

YES! Fantastic result and hopefully knocks their morale in the coming fixtures. Massive and iconic win in what could be a very special season.

Huge result, get in! The title could soon be yours if you keep plugging away.

1.5.20, Christopher Steegmann ”We are on a real high which comes as a result of being top of the league with only four games to go I guess. We’ve had an incredible run of fixtures really, winning five of the six games we’ve played in the Champions Play Off and not conceding a goal in any of the games we’ve won which I think is brilliant. We’ve shown we can win ugly and win even when we’re not playing anywhere near our best, but we’ve also shown that we can play some really good football like we did in the 4-0 win over LASK and the 3-0 win away at Rheindorf Altach. We’ve also shown we can be pragmatic and defend well like we did against Salzburg and we’ve got an awful lot to be proud of this month. The defeat to Rapid Wien stings a lot because of the manner of the defeat but we’ve learned and bounced back from it and that goal was the last we have conceded in a long time now. We’ve got an incredibly important month coming up next month, including the final Wiener derby of the season where we’ll be determined to pick up all three points and maintain our bid for the league title.”

Comments

Jack: It’s a huge result for us, there’s a title there for the taking if we can hold our nerve and build on this position!

ScottT: Fingers crossed!!

Last Update: #2.40 Edomwonyi Strike Draws Die Vielchen Level At Top
Next Update: #2.42 Wiener Derby Win Puts Die Vielchen One Step Closer To Title

A lot of positives to take from those results. Not only are you scoring, you are keeping clean-sheets at the back. Those two things combined can only make for positive results!

Results continue to be good, and congratulations for again reaching the story summit!

Magical month and sitting pretty at the top with no games in hand to your challengers! That RB fixture coming up next month will be absolutely monumental for the entire purpose of your career at Wien

Wiener Derby Win Puts Die Vielchen One Step Closer To Title

Rapid Wien: R Strebinger, L Klunter, R Coetzee, S Posch, B Riveros, T Murg, S Schwab, J Lea-Siliki (M Obuz 89), T Goiginer (A Abrashi 75), O Kamara (S Andersson 68), H Preciado
Austria Wien: P Pentz, F Klein, Tarkan Serbest (T Hubocan 77), A Borkovic, C Cuevas, D Cancola, J Jeggo (U Matic 65), Lucas Venuto, A Grunwald, B Eleke (M Sax 85), B Edomwonyi

Bright Edomwonyi was once again the hero for Austria Wien as the Nigerian scored his sixteenth goal of the season to seal a memorable 1-0 victory in the final Wiener derby of the season as Die Vielchen took another big step towards winning the Bundesliga title. In a tight and tense game at the Allianz Stadion it looked for large periods of the game that the two Wiener rivals would be playing out a goalless stalemate, which would have done neither side any favours in their respective bids to secure European football in Rapid’s case and take a big step towards the league title for Austria Wien. However once again Edomwonyi proved to be the hero for Die Vielchen, as he did two weeks ago when he scored the winning goal to beat Salzburg at the Generali Arena that put Die Vielchen joint top of the table.

Rapid had started the game the better of the two sides, with Carsten Jancker’s side looking to make it back to back wins against their bitter rivals after their 1-0 victory at the Generali Arena just a few weeks ago, but the German and his side don’t quite look at their best yet and fluent with the former Germany internationals tactics and philosophy and it ultimately cost them dearly at the Allianz Stadion. Meanwhile Austria Wien, looked like real title contenders, playing a methodical pragmatic game, approaching the game knowing that only a victory would keep them clear at the top and dropping points would allow Salzburg back in to the title race and take matters out of Die Vielchen’s hands.

Die Vielchen were creating chances straight from the off although never looked overly dangerous in the first half whilst they were able to deal with the limited threat that Rapid posed throughout the first 45 minutes. When the half time whistle was blown it was a game that suited a 0-0 and the points definitely deserved to be shared. However in the second half Austria Wien came out far the more dangerous side with Lucas Venuto’s pace and ability to break at speed causing serious problems for the home sides defence and it was the Brazilian’s ability on the ball that carved out the opportunity for Die Vielchen to take the lead. Venuto created the space down the right wing before cutting inside on his favoured left foot, finding the Nigerian forward Edomwonyi, who collected the ball before firing a powerful effort past Strebinger in the Rapid goal to give Austria Wien all three points.

It was a huge victory for Die Vielchen, which was noticed in the celebrations not only of the players but manager Christopher Steegmann too as the full time whistle went. It was a result that moved Austria Wien five points clear with Salzburg not playing until the day after, whilst also meaning that Die Vielchen’s destiny is in their own hands heading into the final three games of the season, the first of which will be against Rheindorf Altach next week at the Generali Arena in the final home game of the season for Christopher Steegmann and his team.

Comments

ScottT: We’re in a really good patch of form right now so anything is possible!

tenthreeleader: Results are great right now, the title is on! Thanks man, really didn’t expect to win it again

Jack: It’s all setting up for a massive game that could define my managerial career at the club!

Last Update: #2.41 Month In Focus: April
Next Update: #2.43 Red Bull Salzburg Vs. Austria Wien: Bundesliga Title Race Heads To The Wire

ALLEZ ALLEZ ALLEZZZZZ

Red Bull Salzburg Vs. Austria Wien: Bundesliga Title Race Heads To The Wire

With just one game of the Bundesliga campaign to go, the Champions of Austria will be crowned this weekend at the Red Bull Arena as league leaders Red Bull Salzburg host challengers Austria Wien in a winner takes all contest. Both sides have been by far and a way the best two sides in the Bundesliga this season with Marco Rose’s free scoring Salzburg having led the way for the majority of the season whilst Christopher Steegmann’s Austria Wien have really picked up pace in their push for the title as the season has gone on and the meeting between the two sides at the Red Bull Arena on Saturday promises to be an enthralling battle between two great teams and here bundesliga.at previews the title decider and takes a look at the two sides ahead of this crunch game.

Permutations

If ever there was a game that defined win at all costs for these two teams it is this one. Simply put a victory for either side will seal the league title, with Red Bull Salzburg looking to seal a seventh straight Bundesliga title and Christopher Steegmann’s Die Vielchen side looking to win the title for the 25th time in the clubs history and win the Bundesliga for the first time since 2013. In the event of a draw, it will be Red Bull Salzburg who take home the title as they currently sit top of the competition on 47 points, equal with Austria Wien but with a goal difference of 55 compared to Die Vielchen’s 37.

Team News

Both sides come into this crunch match in their Bundesliga campaigns at full strength with both Marco Rose and Christopher Steegmann having a fully fit squad to choose from. Patrick Pentz will return to the starting line-up, having missed the draw with Mattersburg. However, for Die Vielchen, Dominik Prokop, who has six goals in 27 appearances this season, is unlikely to feature from the start as he continues his recovery from the shin splints that have kept him out of action over the course of the last two months.

Form

The form book heavily favours the visitors to the Red Bull Arena on Sunday with Austria Wien undefeated in their last seven games in the Bundesliga, having won 6 games on the bounce and drawn one which was the 0-0 draw with Mattersburg last weekend. Die Vielchen haven’t conceded a goal since the 1-0 defeat to Rapid Wien on March 31st and haven’t conceded a goal from open play since Munas Dabbur scored for Salzburg in a 2-0 win for the reigning Champions at the end of the regular season.

Meanwhile Salzburg are unbeaten in four games, with three consecutive victories against Rheindorf Altach, LASK Linz and Rapid Wien which were preceded by a draw against Mattersburg. Rose’s side have been pragmatic over the last couple of weeks, grinding out results in order to keep their title aspirations alive, however they are coming up against a team in Austria Wien that have been able to grind out wins all season and look resolute at the back.

Head To Head

This season the head to head record between the two teams favours Salzburg heavily. A 4-1 victory for Marco Rose’s side at the Generali Arena back in October inflicted Die Vielchen’s first defeat of the season and saw Austria Wien sit in fourth position in the table and looking seemingly out of the title race. Die Vielchen then visited the Red Bull Arena on Matchday 22 looking to seize control of the title race but lost 2-0 in a lacklustre performance that saw Red Bull Salzburg take a three point lead into the start of the Champions Play Off.

However in the last meeting between the two sides at the Generali Arena, Bright Edomwonyi’s goal just a minute before half time saw Austria Wien take the spoils and seal a big win in their bid to be crowned Champions of Austria as they closed the gap on Salzburg completely with only goal difference separating the two sides heading into Matchday 28.

League Positions

Of the two sides, Salzburg will definitely feel that they should be crowned Champions, because of how long they have spent at the top of the table this season. Having sat in second for the first two weeks of the season, Marco Rose’s then spent only two weeks off the top of the table until Matchday 27 when they were eventually usurped by Austria Wien. Die Vielchen will base their claim on the throne of Austrian football on the fact that they didn’t occupy a Champions League place in the Bundesliga until Matchday 13, and their form ever since has seen them rise up the table and challenge Salzburg at the top and even stake a claim for what would be their 25th league title.

Comments

Justice: Ah man just seeing that image brings back painful memories of what was to come a few weeks after!

ScottT: WE’VE CONQUERED ALL OF EUROPE!!


Last Update: #2.42 Wiener Derby Win Puts Die Vielchen One Step Closer To Title
Next Update: #2.44 Erling Haland Hat Trick Seals Title For Salzburg

That draw to Mattersburg is gutting. But, it's all to play for on the final day... I can just imagine if this happened irl in the Prem! Sky Sports would be having a field day. Just make sure you win, please!

Erling Haland Hat Trick Seals Title For Salzburg

Red Bull Salzburg: C Stankovic, S Lainer, M Pongracic, Andre Ramalho, A Modiba, Z Junuzovic, X Schagler (L Spendlhofer 72), R Yabo (D Samassekou 66), D Szoboszlai, M Dabbur, E Haland (S Prevljak 77)
Austria Wien: P Pentz, F Klein, Tarkan Serbest (T Hubocan 69), A Borkovic, C Cuevas, D Cancola, J Jeggo, Lucas Venuto, A Grunwald (U Matic 77), B Eleke (D Prokop 54), B Edomwonyi

A hat trick from Red Bull Salzburg’s young Norwegian striker Erling Haland sank Austria Wien at the Red Bull Arena today as the hosts secured a seventh successive Bundesliga title despite Die Vielchen pushing Marco Rose’s side all the way to the last game of the season in the hunt for the league title. Two early goals gave Austria Wien a real hammer blow in their bid to win the title and despite Die Vielchen’s attempts to fight back in the game and their failure to take the chances they subsequently created, Haland then sealed the victory with a decisive strike to make it 3-0 and seal not only the title but another memorable victory over their title rivals for Marco Rose and his Red Bull Salzburg fans. Die Vielchen’s players and travelling supporters were left visibly dejected by the defeat as they saw the title slip away from them in the last two weeks of the season but Austria Wien have a lot of positives to take from the season just gone and can now look ahead to the new campaign.

With the title riding on such an important match in the Bundesliga calendar, Salzburg eased the nerves of the home fans within 3 minutes of kick off as Blessing Eleke bought down Marin Pongracic from Zlatko Junuzovic’s corner to concede a penalty. The resulting spot kick was calmly and confidently slotted away by Haland who scored the 18th goal of his league season. The Norwegian starlet had his second of the game and 19th of the season less than ten minutes later as Salzburg hit Die Vielchen with an incisive counter attack with Andre Ramalho clearing long to find Dabbur whose cross field ball to Haland was inch perfect, before the Norwegian slotted easily past the onrushing Patrick Pentz who got his position all wrong.

Zlatko Junuzovic was once again running the show from the centre of the park, and was later awarded the Player of the Year award for the season and the former Werder Bremen midfielder controlled the game from start to finish and should have scored inside five minutes of the resumption of play when his free kick ricocheted off the inside of the post, leaving Pentz stranded in the Die Vielchen goal. However Austria Wien had recovered from the early shock of conceding two goals inside thirteen minutes and had started to fashion their own chances that on another day would have been taken, with Bright Edomwonyi being particularly guilty of missing chances he should have taken, although Cican Stankovic was once again in fine form in the Salzburg goal. However the victory was sealed in the 66th minute as Salzburg once again hit Austria Wien on the counter, and when Haland was slipped through on goal by Szoboszlai, the Norwegian calmly rounded Patrick Pentz to make it 3-0 and send the home fans wild as the realisation that they were once again going to be crowned Champions sank in.

The full time whistle was met with jubilation by the Salzburg coaching staff and players, whilst the fans made their delight known with the releasing of several flares as the dejected Austria Wien players and staff looked on. Christopher Steegmann shook Marco Rose’s hand before rounding up his disappointed players and once the dust has settled on their disappointment this season, Die Vielchen will take a lot of heart from a very promising season in which Steegmann and his side ran Salzburg all the way until the last hurdle and preparations will no doubt begin imminently for the next campaign, especially with Champions League football once again up for grabs with Die Vielchen once again qualifying for the Third Qualifying Round. Meanwhile Salzburg will head into another summer transfer window, desperate to make an impact in the Champions League and looking to defend their crown once more next season.

Comments

ScottT: They’d be having a field day, it was all to play for, we just couldn’t make that final step and get over the hurdle!

Last Update: #2.43 Red Bull Salzburg Vs. Austria Wien: Bundesliga Title Race Heads To The Wire
Next Update: #2.45 Month In Focus: May

Reading that headline, I couldn't help but feel my heart sink. Such a horrible way to lose out the title after being so close. I can't help but think that this will really spur the side on to ensure that next season will be different. Salzburg will be toppled soon!

24.5.20, Christopher Steegmann ”A month that promised so much but ultimately delivered nothing. We came into this month off the back of a huge victory in our season and with a huge shot at claiming the league title for the first time in a long time but unfortunately we’ve just been unable to see ourselves over the line. The Mattersburg draw really cost us because we know that we could have changed our game plan for the Salzburg game but unfortunately there isn’t anything we can do about it now other than turn our attentions to next season and making sure that next season we come back stronger and in very good shape to push on and challenge Salzburg once more.”

Comments

ScottT: It was a heart breaking result and will take a lot to come back from. But nevertheless we will come back from this stronger and better than ever.

Last Update: #2.44 Erling Haland Hat Trick Seals Title For Salzburg
Next Update: #2.46 Steegmann: We'll Come Back Stronger Next Season