Tadic ahead of Rapid hit:

The “spectre” taps his successors

"Rapid fright" Dario Tadic is once again betting on his Hartberger as an outsider on Sunday.

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

A full house in Hartberg on Easter Sunday (14:30) when TSV meet their beloved "Greens" from Rapid. The team from Eastern Styria have won more often against the Hütteldorfer than any of the "big boys" in the domestic top flight - and two of their seven victories (in a total of 19 duels) have come in the current season. Dario Tadic - with six goals for Rapid the personified "Hartberg spectre" - is now watching the match on TV as an outsider...

"After eight years in Hartberg, I'm still in good contact," says the St. Pölten bomber, "my four-year-old son Theo is a big TSV fan and we come to the Profertil Arena as often as we can. Next time against Klagenfurt."

Why are things going so well for the East Styrians against Rapid of all teams? "Maybe it's easier as underdogs against the big teams because they want to make the game their own and give you more space."

Tadic is impressed by Hartberg: "They play really nice attacking soccer and are absolutely right to be in the championship round. And they will play a good role there."

Rapid have also improved: "Under coach Klauß, they are more solid and much more effective up front."

Nevertheless, Dario is betting on another success for his old mates: "Hartberg have won both of the season's duels and a point is the minimum this time too."

Max Entrup (center) goes into the duel with Rapid inspired by his goal for the national team.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Dario feels for his successor Max Entrup: "I know his role very well and he did very well in the fall. He had a bit of a dip in the spring, but I'm sure the goals will come again." The team call-up was of course also due to the absences of Arnautovic and Kalajdzic, but Dario still believes his successor is capable of starting at the European Championships: "Now he has to be ready - then it can definitely be something with Germany."

In the Bundesliga championship race, he is betting on Salzburg: "Everything is more open this year than in the last few years and Sturm has had an outstanding season and a real shot-stopper in Biereth. If Salzburg can be caught, it will be this year. But I think it will be close again for the Bulls."

In the second division, everything is clear for Dario: "The train has left the station for us in St. Pölten and for the rest of the competition - GAK is already too far away!"

Hartberg against the "big boys"

Salzburg: 18 games, 0 wins, 1 draw, 17 defeats

Austria: 21 games, 5 wins, 2 draws, 14 defeats

Sturm: 17 games 5 wins, 3 draws, 9 defeats

LASK: 27 games, 5 wins, 12 draws, 10 defeats

Rapid: 19 games, 7 wins, 4 draws, 8 defeats