Game one after Ilzer

LIVE from 5 pm: Sturm Graz meets Klagenfurt

There was applause from new coach Jürgen Säumel.

(Bild: Sepp Pail, krone.at-mrgrafik)

Sturm Graz started the period after successful coach Christian Ilzer with a gala of goals. With a 7:0 (4:0) home win against Austria Klagenfurt on Saturday, the champions recorded the highest win in the club's history in the Bundesliga and gave Jürgen Säumel a successful debut as interim coach.

With the perfect debut party in front of 13,500 fans, the league leaders extended their lead over chasing Rapid to five points.

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Ilzer had moved from Graz to Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga after four and a half years, while Säumel moved up from Sturm II. The former Sturm captain made three changes to the starting line-up compared to the last game under his predecessor, including William Böving. The Dane got off to an ideal start under Säumel. After Thorsten Mahrer's short clearance right in front of his legs, Böving took off and scored for an early lead (8').

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

Sturm efficient in front of goal
Ben Bobzien had the first chance shortly before for the Klagenfurt side, who kept the defending champions on level terms for half an hour. However, Graz showed their class in front of goal and - aided by Klagenfurt's defensive weaknesses - exploited their chances mercilessly.

After a positioning error by the visitors' defense, Seedy Jatta scored (32') to make it 2:0. Mika Biereth added the third goal on the counterattack (38'), and defender Niklas Geyrhofer was able to celebrate his first Bundesliga goal in the 40th minute.

Brace from Böving and Biereth
Sturm were able to ease off the gas a little after the break and save their energy for Wednesday's Champions League match against Girona in Klagenfurt (18:45). But the hunger for goals was not yet satisfied. Böving (55') and Biereth (65'), who also set up three of his two goals, completed the brace. Leon Grgic scored the final goal in stoppage time (91') to give the current Sturm team the highest win in the history of the Bundesliga. Sturm had also won 7-0 in 1981 (against Sportclub), 1997 (against Admira) and 2000 (against Austria Lustenau).

Peter Pacult

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

In the 61st minute, captain Gregory Wüthrich made his comeback after a two-month injury lay-off as part of a triple substitution.

Graz continue to ride the wave of success
Sturm impressed with their enthusiasm and efficiency and continued their run of success with their new coach. The team from Graz are unbeaten in eight Bundesliga games and have won their last five matches against Austria from Carinthia without conceding a goal.

Sturm Graz - Austria Klagenfurt 7:0 (4:0)
Graz, Merkur Arena, 13,517, SR Spurny.

Goals:
1:0 ( 8.) Böving
2:0 (32.) Jatta
3:0 (38.) Biereth
4:0 (40.) Geyrhofer
5:0 (55.) Böving
6:0 (65') Biereth
7:0 (91.) Grgic

Sturm: Scherpen - Gazibegovic (61. Johnston), Aiwu, Geyrhofer (61. Wüthrich), Lavalee - Chukwuani (83. Hierländer) - Yalcouye, Kiteishvili (61. Horvat), Böving - Biereth, Jatta (69. Grgic)

Klagenfurt: Spari - Gkezos (30. Cvetko), Mahrer, Robatsch - Straudi (76. Bonnah), Wernitznig, Salifou, Koch (76. Wydra), Jaritz - Bobzien (76. Dehl), Binder (51. Toshevski)

Yellow cards: Lavalee, Gazibegovic, Aiwu or Toshevski, Bonnah