Rapid can reclaim top spot with an away win – and travel to Wals-Siezenheim with a run of results that would have seemed almost unimaginable not so long ago. Kick-off at the Red Bull Arena is at 20:30.
Three 1-0 wins in a row: Rapid turn the tables
For years, Salzburg were the ultimate bogey team for Rapid. Their dominance was particularly pronounced on home soil: after winning there in August 2015, Rapid went 19 consecutive Bundesliga away games in Salzburg without a victory, drawing four and losing 15.
That picture has now changed completely. Rapid have won each of the last three league meetings 1-0. Janis Antiste decided the home game in Hütteldorf in March, before Matthias Seidl’s deflected free-kick proved the winner in Salzburg a week later. At the end of April, Ercan Kara scored in the 89th minute to secure another 1-0 victory. Rapid had never previously won three consecutive league matches against Salzburg in the Red Bull era – and they also kept a clean sheet in all three.
Another statistic illustrates just how remarkable that turnaround has been: the first of those three victories was only Rapid’s fourth win in their previous 39 Bundesliga meetings with Salzburg. A team that had been their nemesis for years has, at least temporarily, become an opponent for whom the Vienna side appear to have found an effective game plan.
Both teams make strong starts to the season
Current form also promises a high-quality contest. Rapid have won all four of their league matches so far, scoring 14 goals and conceding only two. The last time they started this well was in 2015/16, while they have only once managed more than four consecutive wins to begin a season: in 1987/88, Rapid won their opening eight league games. Their 14 goals after four rounds also match a club figure last achieved in 1986/87.
On Sunday, Rapid passed their toughest domestic test so far with a 3-1 win over Sturm Graz. Yusuf Demir, Marco Tilio and Petter Nosa Dahl were on target, just days after the team had suffered a major setback in Europe. Rapid were knocked out of the Conference League play-offs by Heart of Midlothian after a dramatic second leg and penalty shootout. Their immediate response against Sturm was therefore all the more convincing and committed.
Salzburg are also unbeaten in the league. Three wins and one draw have produced ten points and a 9-2 goal difference. The only minor blemish was a 1-1 draw away to Wolfsberger AC. August was also successful on the European stage, with Danny Röhl’s side overcoming Pafos and Mjällby to qualify for the Europa League. The 3-3 draw in Cyprus was chaotic at times, however, and exposed one or two defensive weaknesses.
Most recently, Salzburg impressed in a 4-1 victory over Austria Wien. They led 3-0 at half-time before Yorbe Vertessen added a fourth after the break.
Salzburg strengthen with Lindström
There has also been plenty of movement on the transfer market immediately before the clash. Salzburg have brought in Jesper Lindström, a notably high-profile signing by Austrian standards. The 26-year-old Dane joins on loan from SSC Napoli and can operate both out wide and in attacking midfield.
Lindström enjoyed the best spell of his career at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he won the Europa League under Oliver Glasner in 2022. Napoli subsequently paid around €30 million for him, but he never established himself in Italy. Loan spells at Everton and Wolfsburg followed. Salzburg are now believed to have secured a purchase option in the low single-digit millions.
Rapid lose Amane – could Sattlberger return?
At Rapid, meanwhile, an outgoing transfer has dominated the final days of the window. Romeo Amane officially joined RSC Anderlecht on Wednesday. Rapid are expected to receive around €6.5 million including potential bonuses for the 23-year-old midfielder. Amane was still in the starting XI against Sturm but travelled to Belgium on Tuesday.
Rapid are therefore looking for a replacement in defensive midfield. One name to emerge in Belgium is a very familiar one: Nikolas Sattlberger. The former Rapid academy player moved to Genk for around €2.5 million in 2024 but has struggled to establish himself as a permanent starter there. A loan return to Vienna would therefore be conceivable.
Sattlberger would, however, offer a different profile to Amane. He is less explosive and less dynamic when turning away from pressure, but physically stronger and very composed in possession.
Tobias Gulliksen has also left Rapid’s squad. After a difficult few months, the Norwegian has joined Kocaelispor in Turkey on loan for the remainder of the season.
Rapid can return to the summit
After five matches, LASK currently lead the table with 15 points. Rapid have twelve from four games, while Salzburg sit on ten. That gives the rescheduled fixture immediate significance in the standings: a fifth win from five would take Rapid back to the top, while Salzburg would move within two points of LASK with a home victory.
Everything is therefore in place for an intense clash. Salzburg have become considerably more stable again across the past few months, Rapid travel with an extraordinary recent record against the “Bulls” – and both sides have shown in the opening weeks that they intend to play a central role in the title race.
