Draw at the start

SK Rapid hosts LASK – LIVE from 7.30pm

Neither LASK nor Rapid managed to score on Friday.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Neither Rapid nor LASK were able to score a goal in the opening match of the championship round on Friday. The draw doesn't really help either team. LASK remain without a win in 2024 and Rapid are more likely to make headlines off the pitch. Both teams missed good chances.

Third duel of the season, third draw: Rapid and LASK shared the points again on Friday in the opening match of the Champions Group of the Bundesliga with a 0-0 draw at the Allianz Stadium. The team from Linz thus retained third place in the table for the time being. Hütteldorfer are still without a win this season against the participants in the "upper play-off" and moved past their rivals Austria Klagenfurt and TSV Hartberg, who are level on points, into fourth place, at least until Sunday.

Several series thus continued. Linz are still winless in 2024, having also failed to win in their sixth championship match. Rapid, on the other hand, extended their unbeaten run to seven matches. The Viennese side have now not lost at home to LASK eight times in a row, while the Athletics have gone the last five head-to-head matches without defeat.

Protest in the stands
The fans of Block West protested with banners and chants against the new sanctions imposed by the league on Monday. ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick, who was sitting in the stands, also got his verbal comeuppance. The German had decided not to nominate Niklas Hedl, Marco Grüll and Guido Burgstaller for the upcoming training course in Marbella due to the emergence of videos showing verbal slurs from Rapid players after the 3-0 derby win against Austria. Burgstaller, Grüll and Thorsten Schick were still suspended due to the derby aftermath.

After slightly chaotic conditions on the fans' arrival due to a delayed special LASK fan train, the hosts almost made a serious mistake. After a corner of their own, Moritz Oswald lost the ball to Moses Usor on the halfway line as he attempted to return the ball. The Linz striker took a rash shot from almost 50 meters, but could not get a lob over Hedl on goal (11'). Six minutes later, a Ljubicic shot went straight at the Rapid goalkeeper.

Swallow instead of penalty whistle
Rapid's attacking play was very limited, with winger Isak Jansson the most conspicuous player, who missed the ball from the far corner with the only good chance before the break (23'). Linz were slightly more dangerous overall. A Usor shot was deflected out for a corner (36'), before which there was a brief interruption due to objects being thrown onto the pitch. A short time later, Rapid's Terence Kongolo put his goalkeeper to the test with an unintentional return after a feed from the visitors (41').

Rapid coach Robert Klauß(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

After the restart, the home side started with more pressure in front of 13,400 fans and initially dominated proceedings. A penalty was rightly disallowed due to a foul by Jansson in the penalty area (54'). The Swede and Fally Mayulu had half-chances shortly afterwards, but were unable to finish. After an hour, Linz came back with a Ljubicic header that was saved by Hedl. At the other end, Leopold Querfeld, once again acting as captain, did not miss much with a header (69').

Ismail Seydi was already on the pitch at this point, making his debut for the Rapid professionals in the 67th minute and providing fresh impetus in attack. However, he was unable to reward himself with a goal. As a result, the home supporters, who attracted negative attention once again with a firecracker throw in the 77th minute, could only celebrate a point. Late goals like the 1:1 in Linz and 3:3 in the Allianz Stadium at the end of October did not materialize this time.