Both sides entered the contest looking to bounce back from disappointing Europa League results. Sturm had suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Celje on Thursday, while Salzburg had lost 2-0 to Anderlecht. The Graz side had gone four competitive matches without a win since their victory over Marseille, while Salzburg were determined to keep pace with league leaders Rapid Vienna. What followed at the Stadion Graz-Liebenau was an entertaining, high-intensity contest in which both attacks impressed but neither defence looked particularly secure.
Röhl springs a surprise with his team selection
Salzburg head coach Danny Röhl made several changes to the side that had featured in Europe. Soumaïla Diabaté partnered Abubakr Barry in defensive midfield, allowing Bartosz Mazurek to operate in a more advanced role behind centre-forward Haris Tabaković. On the wings, Jesper Lindstrøm and Damir Redzic were preferred to Yorbe Vertessen and Edmund Baidoo.
The midfield reshuffle suggested Röhl wanted greater defensive solidity. Diabaté and Barry provided a more defensive-minded partnership, while Mazurek’s combination of technical quality and strength in duels offered Salzburg an effective option for pressing higher up the pitch.
Sturm coach Fabio Ingolitsch, meanwhile, stuck with his 3-4-2-1 formation. His options remained limited by a lengthy injury list, although Gizo Mamageishvili and Seedy Jatta were at least available again among the substitutes.
Diakité turns the game around before Salzburg hit back
The visitors made the brighter start. In the fifth minute, Tabaković opened the scoring with an exquisite backheeled finish from a Mazurek assist. Shortly afterwards, Mazurek himself found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Sturm responded impressively, turning the game around in a matter of minutes. Oumar Diakité initially headed against the crossbar before connecting with another delivery from Jürgen Heil to equalise in the 14th minute. Just four minutes later, the Ivorian met a lofted pass from Jon Gorenc Stanković with a first-time finish to put the hosts 2-1 ahead.
The double took Diakité’s tally to nine goals in his first seven Austrian Bundesliga appearances. The only previous player to achieve that feat was Oliver Bierhoff for Austria Salzburg in the 1990/91 season.
Salzburg nevertheless found a way back. Mazurek played an incisive pass into the path of Leandro Morgalla, who levelled the scores in the 29th minute. Further drama followed three minutes later when Salzburg coach Röhl was shown a red card for his conduct on the touchline and had to watch the remainder of the match from the stands.
Lindstrøm’s solo brilliance settles a pulsating contest
The intensity barely dropped after the interval. Both teams continued to attack with purpose, although they also left openings for their opponents to exploit. In the 67th minute, Damir Redzic restored Salzburg’s lead after being set up by substitute Vertessen.
Sturm hit back almost immediately. Captain Jon Gorenc Stanković headed home an Arjan Malić delivery in the 70th minute to make it 3-3, with young Salzburg goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky failing to cover himself in glory.
The decisive moment came just four minutes later. Lindstrøm collected a pass from Barry, embarked on a superb solo run and finished precisely to put Salzburg 4-3 ahead. Sturm pushed for another equaliser, but the visitors held on. Paul-Friedrich Koller came close in the 90th minute, sending a header narrowly over the bar.
Alongside Diakité, Luca Weinhandl was one of Sturm’s standout performers. The 17-year-old midfielder once again demonstrated his considerable potential, impressing with his confidence, strength in individual battles and five successful dribbles.
The seven goals reflected the attacking nature of an intense contest in which both defences repeatedly showed their vulnerabilities. Salzburg enjoyed slightly more possession, with around 54 per cent, and registered 13 attempts compared with Sturm’s 12. Both sides managed five shots on target. The difference was more pronounced in expected goals (xG), where Salzburg led 2.12 to 0.96.
Salzburg keep the pressure on Rapid
The victory takes Salzburg to 30 points, three behind leaders Rapid Vienna, who had beaten Wolfsberger AC 6-0 on Friday. Röhl’s side remain the only unbeaten team in the Austrian Bundesliga after 12 rounds, with nine wins and three draws.
For Sturm, the result deepens their difficult run. The Graz side are now winless in five competitive matches, remain on 19 points and trail Rapid by 14. They also drop to fifth place in the standings.
