First defeat for the Bulls!

SK Rapid v Red Bull Salzburg LIVE from 5pm

In the end, Rapid were able to celebrate a win against Salzburg.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

What a thrilling match between Rapid and Red Bull Salzburg on matchday five in the domestic Bundesliga! The Hütteldorfer were not unsettled by conceding an early goal and were able to win 3:2 in the end. It was the first defeat of the season for the Bulls. However, there is also a bitter aftertaste: both striker Guido Burgstaller and his replacement Dion Beljo had to be substituted due to injury.  

Rapid brought runners-up Red Bull Salzburg to their knees in the 5th round of the Bundesliga. After a weak opening phase, the Viennese side prevailed 3:2 (2:2) in a thrilling match against the Champions League starters. It was the first time since 2012 that Rapid had won twice in a row against Salzburg. As a result, the home side moved up to second place in the table ahead of the international break, while Salzburg are one point behind in fourth.

The outstanding player in front of 21,500 spectators at the Allianz Stadium was Swedish U21 team player Isak Jansson, who scored a brace (19th, 60th) for the first time in Rapid kit. Jonas Auer (37) also scored a remarkable goal. After the bitter loss in the Europa League play-off against SC Braga on Thursday, there were positive headlines again. For the visitors, the early opening goal from Dorgeles Nene (5') and the 2:2 from Petar Ratkov (45.+3) were not enough to take home anything worthwhile. They lost for the first time in their ninth competitive game under new coach Pepijn Lijnders.

Injuries overshadow the game
A potentially serious injury to Maurits Kjaergaard was further bad news for Salzburg, who had secured their place in the league phase of the Champions League on Tuesday. But the Viennese also had bad luck with injuries. Guido Burgstaller was ruled out early on with a muscle injury in his thigh, while substitute Dion Beljo left the field shortly after the restart. Two other strikers, Furkan Dursun and Noah Bischof, were not match fit.

In front of the home crowd and ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick, Rapid made a capital false start. After just over four minutes, first Mamadou Sangare and then Louis Schaub scrambled when playing out, Oscar Gloukh grabbed the ball and fed Nene, who only had to slot home from the center of the five-man box. It could have been even worse for the Viennese. Nene laid the ball off to Gloukh on the counter-attack, who managed to get the ball past Niklas Hedl, but just missed the goal (11'). At this point, the "Bulls" had pinned Vienna back in their half and were running the ball at will.

Rapid show morale
The Hütteldorfer came into the game virtually out of nowhere. Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao set up Matthias Seidl and, after the latter's lofted pass, Jansson outpaced Salzburg defender Samson Baidoo and coolly finished into the corner. Suddenly, there was no longer any sign of the apparent difference in class. Rapid could even have scored a double, but Burgstaller's direct shot from eleven meters missed the target (23'). Jansson also failed to beat Janis Blaswich after a fine individual move (36').

Rapid turned the game around against Salzburg

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The German was able to save a Beljo header shortly afterwards, but was powerless against Auer's volley after a Dedic clearance. Salzburg quickly shook off the new setback. After a Nene header, Ratkov hit the crossbar with his head (40'). In the final action of the first half, Salzburg switched gears at lightning speed after a Rapid set-piece. The ball was played through Moussa Yeo and Nene to Ratkov, who finished into the corner almost on the stroke of half-time.

A thrilling game
The game went back and forth after the break. And Jansson, the most eye-catching player, became the match-winner after an hour. After a pass from Grgic, he won the running duel with Kamil Piatkowski and Baidoo was unable to intervene and prevent the Rapid player from finishing. Raux-Yao (82') and Dennis Kaygin in front of the empty goal (85') could have made everything clear, but Baidoo (84') missed the chance to equalize for Salzburg. Referee Stefan Ebner then rightly reversed a handball penalty decision for Salzburg after a video review.

Rapid thus won again against Salzburg at their home stadium, having not lost in their last three head-to-head meetings. Due to the postponement of the Hartberg game, Lijnders' side have played one game less than their rivals.