Final match for top 6

Gijon in Klagenfurt? A draw is enough for both!

Rapid and Austria Klagenfurt only need a draw to qualify for the championship group.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

After the 1-1 draw against Lustenau, Rapid must not lose in Carinthia next week for the Top 6. The derby hearing at Senate 1 takes place today.

"Now we have the situation we wanted to avoid. So far it's felt like it's been a final game, this will be a real final game, with a lot of pressure on the cauldron," said Rapid coach Robert Klauß, studying the table after the 1-1 draw against Lustenau. Grün-Weiß were unable to secure their place in the championship group yesterday and need one more point next Sunday in Klagenfurt to make the top 6.

No losing - but that also applies to their opponents, the Pacult team! Curiously, one point is enough for both teams. This brings back memories of Gijon, the non-aggression pact during Austria's 1-0 defeat to Germany at the 1982 World Cup. Klauß: "We want to win."

After everything went wrong yesterday against the league beaters. "We were hectic, not sharp enough. There's a fine line between self-confidence and arrogance," said an annoyed Klauß after a crazy 98 minutes. In which Rapids' Kongolo (his third exclusion of the season) was sent off with a yellow-red card (34) despite being fouled by Bobzien. Then Kasanwirjo made an amateurish tackle at 0:1. Before referee Hameter also judged the wrong penalty handball, Lustenau's Grabher saw red. Grüll converted from the spot - 1:1 (78'). "The referee misjudged every crucial scene," said Klauß in amazement. "But we were also weak."

Only Burgstaller (bar) and Seidl (brilliant save from Schierl) had the win at their feet in minute 87. Not enough for Rapid - so a point is needed in Klagenfurt to secure top spot in the Champions League.

Guido Burgstaller was annoyed.(Bild: APA/EVA MANHART)

Hearing today
However, there is already trembling today when Senate 1 of the league will hear the case. However, Klauß will not let the derby aftershock pass as an "alibi" for yesterday's poor performance. For today, however, he hopes that "we will get off lightly". Klauß, who had already condemned the behavior of his "singers" as "intolerable", also knows that penalties and suspensions could be on the cards. Yesterday, assistant coach Krauss was also sent to the stands. That fits in with Rapid's current situation.