Leader at last

Title final spurt: A storm is coming!

Jusuf Gazibegovic and David Schnegg are ready for the hit in Salzburg!

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Leaders of the table at last! Christian Ilzer's team are three points ahead of the mega clash in the city of Mozart on Sunday (17). Almost everything now speaks for the challengers: starting position, remaining program, form curve and momentum are on the side of the Blacks.

"We will be champions!" chanted the 2,500 Sturm fans who had traveled with them into the Hütteldorf night. And indeed, for the first time since 2013, the domestic champions might not be Salzburg, with the team from Graz on the verge of making a perfect end to the league king's disastrous season: No wintering in the European Cup! Out of the Cup! And now they're also in danger of losing the championship!

You have to be made for a final spurt like this. Either you become as soft as a potato or you become like a hard-boiled egg. We're more likely to go for the second option.

Sturm-Trainer Christian Ilzer

While the Bulls are on the ropes after the 3:4 in Klagenfurt, the challengers seem to be bursting with confidence. In recent years, the title race has generally been a yawn-inducing affair, but after Sturm's 3:1 win at Rapid, Austria can now look forward to a thrilling final! With a win in Sunday's over-the-top hit in the city of Mozart, the Ilzer squad could almost seal the deal. The Styrians certainly seem to have the better cards ahead of the last four rounds.

Sturm are celebrating after their 3:1 win at Rapid.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Remaining program: After the direct duel, Sturm still have two home games (Hartberg, Klagenfurt) and LASK away. Salzburg, on the other hand, will have to overcome Rapid and Hartberg, and LASK at home.

Form curve: Sturm are going from win to win: the three points in Hütteldorf were their fifth success in a row! The champions, on the other hand, are staggering through the league, with just one meagre win in the last four rounds.

Momentum: After the 0:1 in Graz against Salzburg, including a 5-point deficit, the Blacks were written off in the title fight. But they came back like a phoenix from the ashes: they knocked Salzburg out of the cup and stormed into pole position in the fast lane. "We can do something historic, Salzburg will be in for a storm on Sunday," said Jusuf Gazibegovic, who wants to give his former club a shot in the summit clash.

Champions were stunned
Salzburg staggered around the ring like a battered boxer. The helplessness in the second half in Klagenfurt, in which they conceded four goals, left everyone stunned. "We all feel the same way," said goalkeeper Alex Schlager. "I'm shocked," said double-goalscorer Karim Konate, the only Bull in normal form, who could hardly believe that they went down to defeat at Wörthersee.

Did everyone in Salzburg really realize the seriousness of the situation? "In any case. You can tell from the lads that they are totally determined to win the title," said interim coach Onur Cinel, defending his charges. However, there was no sign of this on the pitch. With a view to the mega-hit on Sunday, the 38-year-old practiced perseverance slogans. "I think we'll see a completely different Salzburg side there."