At Red Bull Salzburg, alarm bells are ringing. The Bulls have been without a goal for 360 minutes, and at the start of the championship round, neo-coach Daniel Beichler’s team lost their second Bundesliga game in a row against Rapid Vienna on Sunday.

Three years ago, FC Red Bull Salzburg was synonymous with success and national dominance. The exact opposite is currently the case. If Austria’s financially strongest club doesn’t score a goal in four games in a row, doesn’t make it to the final of the ÖFB Cup, and delivers embarrassing performances despite a change of coach, it can’t get involved in the title race.

Tim Drexler emphasized the need for improvement, stating, “I suppose it was quite good after the last defeat during the week, so we showed a good reaction. That has to be the case again this week, but I’m tired of the constant ‘good reaction, good reaction’. On Friday (against Sturm Graz, note) we simply have to get three points again to regain this sense of achievement and this positive feeling. Until then we just have to work really hard.”

Rapid Secures Victory in Wals-Siezenheim

Rapid secured their second 1-0 win in a row against Salzburg in eight days. Matthias Seidl scored the winning goal in Wals-Siezenheim on Sunday with a deflected free kick (69th), putting the Green-Whites at the top of the Bundesliga championship group. Salzburg, now one point behind Rapid, were reduced to ten men after Joane Gadou received a red card in the 67th minute and have been waiting for a goal for four competitive games.

Match Details

The game, played in front of almost 10,000 fans, saw early chances for both sides. Nikolaus Wurmbrand tested Salzburg goalie Alexander Schlager early on, although Karim Konate had an attempt saved off the line.

Despite Salzburg’s field superiority, they failed to capitalize. Konate had another opportunity in the 26th minute, but his attempt was saved by Niklas Hedl.

Jannik Schuster acknowledged the team’s responsibility, saying, “It’s up to the team and not the coach. We can now appear for excuses, but that just doesn’t help.”

Rapid improved in the second half, with Petter Nosa Dahl hitting the side netting and Andreas Weimann heading onto the outside bar. The decisive moment came when Dahl was fouled by Gadou, leading to a red card for the Salzburg defender. Seidl’s subsequent free kick was deflected in by Konate, making it unstoppable for Schlager.

Despite being a man down, Salzburg couldn’t find an equalizer, with Frans Krätzig missing a late chance.

Lineups

Salzburg: Schlager – Drexler, Gadou, Schuster, Krätzig – Diabate, Bidstrup – Lukic, Redzic, Alajbegovic – Konate

Rapid Wien: Hedl – Cvetkovic, Raux-Yao, Schöller – M. Seidl, Amane, Grgic, Horn – Wurmbrand, Weimann, Bolla