"Not Easy to Play There": Rapid Vienna Wants Three Points in Hartberg

As an intermezzo between the round of 16 of the Football Conference League, Rapid is fighting for the final securing of a place in the Bundesliga championship group. The Hütteldorfers will visit Hartberg on Sunday (5:00 PM), and a victory would eliminate all doubts about participation in the upper play-off, regardless of all other results. However, the focus must be found three days after the 1:1 at Borac and four days before the return match against the Bosnians.

Rapid Wants to Win

Coach Robert Klauß has to do without the suspended Nenad Cvetkovic, and Isak Jansson is questionable due to a shoulder injury. At least a slight rotation is expected compared to the appearance in Banja Luka. "We have to see which players are fit so that we can send a good eleven onto the field," explained the German.

In Hartberg, Klauß is prepared for tough resistance. "It's never easy to play there. They have quality, a good team, and good processes," warned the 40-year-old. "We have to push ourselves to the limit to get a win, which is our goal."

Hartberg in Eighth Place

However, Hartberg has been chasing a full success for four games and is still without a league win in 2025. If the trend continues, the championship group will no longer be a topic for the eighth-placed team after this weekend. Currently, coach Manfred Schmid's team still has a chance to reach the top six. They are five points short of the currently sixth-placed LASK.

"It's about six points in the next two games, that must be our goal. Above all, it's also about improving our performance," Schmid made clear. In the last home game before the point split, a victory should be given to the fans, said Dominik Prokop. Personnel-wise, TSV is missing Maximilian Fillafer after shoulder surgery. There is a question mark over the injured Justin Omoregie.

(APA/Red)

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