Bundesliga in the TICKER

LIVE from 14:30: Altach must face SK Rapid!

SK Rapid have to play SCR Altach in the Ländle ...

(Bild: GEPA)

9th round in Austria's Bundesliga: SCR Altach host SK Rapid. We report live (see below). 

Here is the LIVETICKER:

With the opening win in the Conference League behind them, Rapid want to go one better in the Bundesliga. Four days after the 2:1 win at Basaksehir Istanbul, the Hütteldorfer will go into the international break at SCR Altach in Ländle with another successful result. The team from Vorarlberg, on the other hand, are hoping for the coaching effect, with Cameroonian Louis Ngwat-Mahop sitting on the bench on an interim basis following the departure of head coach Joachim Standfest.

Robert Klauß

(Bild: GEPA)

"We don't know what to expect!"
After the successful European Cup trip to Turkey, Rapid were fully focused on their first away win in the league this season. After the return flight directly after the game on Wednesday, Green-White enjoyed an extra day of rest before flying to Ländle via Friedrichshafen on Saturday. An opponent without a fixed coach awaits there.

"We don't know what to expect. We are preparing for various scenarios," said Rapid coach Robert Klauß, who also emphasized: "We don't want to overrate it. The players will stay the same and as a new coach you can't make a lot of changes in three or four days."

"There are many good reasons to win the game!"
According to Klauß, it is now important for Hütteldorf to say goodbye to the international break with a sense of achievement and collect three points. "There are many good reasons to win the game." One of these reasons could be the long-awaited success of Louis Schaub, who scored twice in Istanbul. "That made him very happy, you could see a certain relief. That certainly gives him another boost," said Klauß.

In terms of personnel, the German can call on all of his European Cup fighters, with only Moritz Oswald missing out after suffering a knock to his knee in training. Under certain circumstances, Rapid could even take the lead in the table; after eight rounds, Rapid are only one point behind champions Sturm (16 points). The team from Graz will face runners-up Salzburg (13), who are third in the table but have played two games less.

Roland Kirchler

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

"Old Schnabelholz mentality" required
Altach had announced the departure of Standfest and assistant coach Roman Wallner on Monday; according to sporting director Roland Kirchler, "a new impetus" should bring about a turnaround for the team in tenth place in the table after five winless league games in a row. Against Rapid, Kirchler demanded the "old Schnabelholz mentality" from the players, i.e. an unpleasant Altach to play against.

The search for a new coach is currently in full swing. "We have several candidates on the priority list and now have a final selection of two or three coaches. We hope it will happen as quickly as possible," said Kirchler, who is hoping for an announcement soon after the international break. "It doesn't have to be a quick fix," added the Tyrolean, who expects a move away from the "defensive system" and wants to see a bit more "show on the pitch".

Altach only managed one home win in the 2024 calendar year 
Most recently, the Rheindörfler suffered defeats in Hartberg (0:2) and against Blau-Weiß Linz (0:1). If the statistics are anything to go by, Altach face a fearsome opponent from the recent past. Rapid have won all five of their previous matches. The Vorarlberg side also have a glaring weakness at home, with Altach managing just one win in twelve home games in the 2024 calendar year.

Louis Ngwat-Mahop

(Bild: Maurice Shourot)

Ngwat-Mahop is also aware of this and is hoping for a surprise against the favorites from Vienna. "We all know that Rapid are good. We're not expecting an easy game, but we also know what our boys are capable of. There's always a chance," said the interim coach. The 37-year-old was twice champion with Salzburg and ended his active career at SCRA in 2020. Since then, he has worked as a coach in various roles in the Altach cosmos. In the past two years, the former striker has coached Altach Juniors, who currently play in the Regionalliga West.