Viennese derby by important millions: Group phase opens many options

The SK Rapid faces a huge squad break. The cash register of the Viennese Austria is empty. Participation in an international group phase could specify the direction in Hütteldorf and favorites.

• Zoran Barisic: "Group phase opens up opportunities"
• Manfred Schmid: "Derby not decisive"
• the last 10 derby encounters

The starting point in front of the Viennese derby is clear: After 29 match days, the SK Rapid holds third place with 24 points, only two points behind the violets lurk. So there is a violet victory to suppress the Hütteldorfer.

But that could be difficult. The last six meetings (!) Ended. In September 2019, Rapid was able to beat Austria, before that the violets won twice en suite.

Overall, there is a lot at stake, in the 336th Viennese derby. Third place guarantees a European group phase and thus at least three million euros. Money that the financially battered violets and also the not necessarily difficult SK Rapid urgently need.

Zoran Barisic: "Group phase opens up opportunities"

“We would have the opportunity to continue to grow internationally, to continue growing, get better and to lift ourselves to the next level in our own development. Among other things, third place would make many things easier. You don't need to be a prophet to know that a fixed group phase in the European competition opens up many options, ”explains Rapid Managing Director Zoran Barisic, the importance of third place.

One thing is clear: there is a tremendous squad break. Does Ferdy Druijf stay? Are Christopher Dibon and Philipp Schobesberger Fix? What happens to coveted players like Yusuf Demir, Marco Grüll, Emanuel Aiwu or Robert Ljubicic? A group phase could serve as an important argument financially and sporty, even with newcomers.

"A lot will happen in summer - a lot! We had a small change both last summer and in winter and now there will be a bigger change," Barisic already knows.

Most recently, Demir was associated with trabzonspor and even celebrated the club's championship title on site. "To be honest, I don't have an email from the club or an inquiry from a manager in this regard. So far there is nothing in my email account when it comes to an inquiry or an offer," explains Barisic. "Maybe he has the Turkish with trabzonspor Master title celebrated. The family members are real Trabzon fans and also come from there. ”

Manfred Schmid: "Derby not decisive"

What applies to SK Rapid also applies to the rival from favorites, who could achieve enormous financial relief with the European group phase. "We have a great starting position. It depends on us what we make of it. But the chance is huge, we want to take them," said Austria coach Manfred Schmid.

"We have already been in a final situation, four laps before the end of the basic round. Only a few believed in us. We always have pressure, but even if it shouldn't be the third place, everyone would have been happy at the beginning of the season ", Schmid recalls:" Of course that's three endgames. But I don't think that the derby is decisive. "

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the last 10 derby encounters

Date	Home team	Guest team	result
Sun. 20.03.2022	Rapid Vienna	Austria Vienna	1: 1
Sun. 05.12.2021	Rapid Vienna	Austria Vienna	1: 1
Sun. 29.08.2021	Austria Vienna	Rapid Vienna	1: 1
Sun. 07.03.2021	Austria Vienna	Rapid Vienna	0: 0
Sun. 29.11.2020	Rapid Vienna	Austria Vienna	1: 1
Sun. 08.12.2019	Rapid Vienna	Austria Vienna	2: 2
Sun. 01.09.2019	Austria Vienna	Rapid Vienna	1: 3
Sun. 16.12.2018	Austria Vienna	Rapid Vienna	6: 1
Sun. 09/16/2018	Rapid Vienna	Austria Vienna	0: 1
Sun. 04/15/2018	Austria Vienna	Rapid Vienna	0: 4