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Trabzonspor v SK Rapid LIVE from 7pm

Lukas Grgic (l.) extended Guido Burgstaller's (r.) shot into the home side's goal.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

SK Rapid leave Turkey with a 1:0 victory in their luggage. Lukas Grgic headed in the decisive goal in the 67th minute of the first leg of the third Europa League qualifying round against Trabzonspor on Thursday to secure an important away win.

SK Rapid have earned the chance to advance to the Europa League play-offs. The Viennese side secured a 1:0 (0:0) away win at Turkish top-flight club Trabzonspor on Thursday. It was the fifth win in a row for Rapid. The starting position ahead of the second leg in Vienna next Thursday could hardly be better.

Braga or Geneva
The team promoted from the duel will play the winner of SC Braga against Servette Geneva in the play-off (August 22/29). The loser will advance to the Conference League play-off, where FC St. Gallen await.

Rapids Guido Burgstaller

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Lukas Grgic

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Robert Klauß was once again able to build on a confident team. Unsurprisingly, Rapids' coach opted for the tried and tested for the third-placed team from the previous Süper Liga season. Only right-back Bendeguz Bolla was missing from the successful team against Sturm Graz, as he was serving the last game of his European Cup ban. The Hungarian was replaced by Moritz Oswald. Trabzonspor were seen as favorites, but were considered too tough to beat. The Turks only start the championship on Sunday. Their best-known summer signing is former Atletico professional Stefan Savic in central defense. Trabzonspor had not named ex-Rapidler Taxiarchis Fountas for the European Cup.

Brave opening phase
Rapid got off to an ambitious start in front of almost 34,000 spectators in the atmospheric Papara Park Stadyumu and attacked early on. A harsh misplaced pass by the Turks gave Guido Burgstaller a good finishing position in the 5th minute, but the veteran's shot landed next to the goal. The Turkish team keeper Ugurcan Cakir was tested for the first time by Isak Jansson (24'). Niklas Hedl had little to do in his 100th competitive match for Rapid in the visitors' goal. The Bosnian ex-international Edin Visca, who launched Trabzonspor's attacks on the far right, caused problems.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Burgstaller, who recently scored three goals against Wisla Krakow, shot volleyed left-footed past the far corner (37'). Rapid could only blame themselves for not being able to take advantage of such chances. Trabzonspor also worked their way close to the penalty area on several occasions, but the home side's most dangerous action was a header from a corner kick by defender Stefano Denswil (32').

First European Cup goal
Trabzonspor came back better after the break and put Rapid under pressure in the build-up. The Viennese were now in defensive mode, while their opponents stepped up their attacking efforts with fresh players. While Louis Schaub and Furkan Dursun were already preparing to make their changes, the Whites struck from a set-piece. Burgstaller's shot was deflected into the far corner by Grgic's high forehead. The worker bee in midfield celebrated his first European Cup goal.

Guido Burgstaller (l.) celebrates with Lukas Grgic.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Trabzonspor were quick to respond. Hedl had to make a flying save from Egyptian Trezeguet's shot and shortly afterwards Schaub missed a great chance to make it 2:0 when he was released by Matthias Seidl and failed to beat Cakir (74'). Hedl caught a header on the line after a corner. Rapid then held on to their lead.