Vienna fear for top 6

Hartberg vs Rapid – LIVE from 5pm

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/GEPA pictures, apa)

Rapid must tremble about their participation in the Bundesliga champions' group. The Hütteldorfer lost 1:2 at Hartberg on Sunday and are now in sixth place, just one point ahead of seventh-placed Blau-Weiß Linz. The match was kicked off 45 minutes late due to rioting. 

Hartberg no longer have a chance of finishing in the top six, but celebrated their first league win of the year thanks to goals from Elias Havel (49') and Muharem Huskovic (74'). Isak Jansson's goal (85) was not enough for Rapid.

The match was overshadowed by serious rioting before kick-off. Apparently out of displeasure at the admission control procedure, Hütteldorf fans attacked police officers with various thrown objects. The staging of the match was in doubt. In the end, the executive decided to allow the match to go ahead after a delay of around 45 minutes.

Prior to this, numerous fans had stood for a long time on the running track between the visitors' stand and the pitch in the wake of the riots. Hartberg president Brigitte Annerl in particular showed great commitment to bringing the situation under control - she and Rapid managing director Steffen Hofmann sought to talk to the fans and were ultimately successful. "They assured me that there would be nothing more," explained the club boss on Sky after the discussion with various supporters.

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Many mistakes and few chances in the first half
In fact, there were no more incidents during the match, but the events on the pitch before the break did not give rise to any exuberant emotions either. The game was characterized by many mistakes and few scoring chances. Rapid, with Isak Jansson in the starting eleven after recovering from a shoulder injury, only drew attention to themselves with long-range shots from Benjamin Böckle (18th) and Mamadou Sangare (37th) three days after the 1-1 draw in the Conference League round of 16 first leg at Borac. Huskovic hit the outside of the net for Hartberg (41').

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

The 1:0 followed soon after the break. Hedl allowed a low shot from Donis Avdijaj from just outside the sixteen to bounce forward, Havel was quickest to react and beat the Rapid goalkeeper with a lob. Philippe Raux-Yao's attempt to save was unsuccessful. After that, Rapid struggled for a long time with ineffective means to score at least one more point. Hartberg were more efficient - after an ideal Avdijaj pass, Huskovic proved his goal-scoring qualities from close range.

Rapid only came back in the final stages. Hartberg forgot about Jansson, who shot dryly under the crossbar from close range. A short time later, substitute Ercan Kara was celebrating the supposed 2:2, but the attacker's header was very slightly offside, as the video referee determined to the annoyance of coach Robert Klauß.

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Rapid face crucial games
Rapid have now lost four of their five league games this year, with just one win from the last eight rounds. The Viennese side now face a series of crucial games: on Thursday they face Borac for a place in the Conference League quarter-finals, followed by a home tie against GAK the following Sunday for a place in the Bundesliga Champions Group.

TSV Hartberg - SK Rapid 2:1 (0:0)
Hartberg, Profertil Arena, 4,500, referee Gishamer

Goals: 
1:0 (49.) Havel

2:0 (74.) Huskovic

2:1 (85.) Jansson

Hartberg: Sallinger - Heil, Komposch, Karamatic - Demir, Kainz, Avdijaj (85. Drew), Markus, Pfeifer - Huskovic (81. Diarra), Havel (70. Mijic)

Rapid: Hedl - Bolla (75. Radulovic), Schöller (48. Ahoussou), Raux-Yao, Böckle - Borkeeiet (75. Lu. Grgic), Sangare - Schaub (46. Wurmbrand), M. Seidl (59. Kara), Jansson - Beljo

Yellow cards: Karamatic, Havel, Pfeifer or Sangare, Bolla, Borkeeiet, Beljo, Klauß (coach)