Sturm Graz took over the top spot in the Bundesliga on Wednesday and has put itself in a promising position in the championship race. The Styrians celebrated a 3-1 away win against Rapid and are now three points ahead of defending champions Red Bull Salzburg with four rounds to go, who conceded a surprising 3-4 at Austria Klagenfurt two hours earlier. On Sunday there will be a direct duel between the two title rivals in Wals-Siezenheim.
In addition, after the 1-0 win on Friday in Graz, Sturm achieved their second win in six days over Rapid and thus a successful dress rehearsal for the cup final against Hütteldorfer next Wednesday in Klagenfurt. Tomi Horvat (8th), Jusuf Gazibegovic (29th) and Otar Kiteishvili (44th) scored for the guests, the Rapid goal was scored by Fally Mayulu (19th). Sturm only left the field as a loser once in the last 14 league duels with the Viennese and ensured that Rapid’s league season home record looks even bleaker: three wins, seven draws and four defeats. Rapid with three central defenders during Sturm’s one set Only David Affengruber was spared, there was significantly more fluctuation among the hosts. The ailing Lukas Grgic and Terence Kongolo did not get fit in time, and Guido Burgstaller only had a place on the substitutes’ bench in front of 20,300 spectators, including team boss Ralf Rangnick. Top scorer Marco Grüll also took a seat there. Probably due to the personnel problems, Rapid coach Robert Klauß tried with three central defenders for the first time in his tenure – a measure that didn’t pay off. David Schnegg brought the ball from the left to the middle, Tomi beat Niklas Hedl early with a direct shot into the near corner. Sturm seemed to have the game under control after that, but Rapid hit back with their first successful offensive action. After a measured cross from Jonas Auer, Mayulu headed in. As a result, the coordination problems caused by the system change became increasingly noticeable for the home team. The Graz team dominated the center and Rapid made a few mistakes, including the 1:2. Nikolas Sattlberger, who was called up as the central defender, lost the ball near his own goal and then committed a foul. Gazibegovic sank the free kick that was due. Strong phase In the 33rd minute, a long shot from Sturm was enough to let William Böving run towards the goal alone. However, the Dane took the ball poorly and Mika Biereth, who was rushing along, was denied by Hedl. The next Rapid uncertainty led to 3-1 for the new league leaders. Dennis Kaygin lost the ball, the Hütteldorfers defended poorly, Sturm was involuntarily served the ball by Moritz Oswald and Kiteishvili was successful with his left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area. Klauß reacted with a double substitution, with Grüll also joined by Nenad Cvetkovic, making his professional comeback after he tore his cruciate ligament in August. It was also the defender who created the most dangerous moments in the opposing penalty area. A header from Cvetkovic to the Grüll corner was deflected onto the crossbar by Vitezslav Jaros (65th), and the Sturm keeper was also there for another header from the Serb (70th).Sturm now in poleThe guests acted in the second Half-time were a lot more passive than before the break, but they were no longer in serious danger of giving up the lead. Mayulu missed the last chance and found his match in Jaros (91′). Sturm’s chance of the first championship title since 2011 and the first double since 1999 is still alive. Rapid, on the other hand, conceded more than one goal for the first time under Klauß and is already five points behind third-place LASK in fourth place. The fifth-placed Klagenfurt team caught up with the Hütteldorfers on points.SK Rapid – SK Sturm Graz 1:3 (1:3)Vienna, Allianz Stadium, 20,300, SR Altmann.Goals: 0:1 (8th) Horvat 1:1 (19 .) Mayulu 1:2 (29th) Gazibegovic 1:3 (44th) KiteishviliRapid: Hedl – Hofmann (46th Cvetkovic), Sattlberger, Kasanwirjo – Oswald, Kaygin (77th Seydi), Seidl, Auer – Lang (46th). Grüll), Mayulu, Jansson (84. Zivkovic)Storm: Jaros – Gazibegovic (88. Johnston), Wüthrich, Lavalee, Schnegg (88. Affengruber) – Gorenc Stankovic – Horvat (71. Camara), Kiteishvili (71. Hierländer), Prass – Biereth (61. Jatta), BövingYellow cards: Auer or Lavalée, Schnegg
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