Red Bull Salzburg failed to extend its lead in the Bundesliga at the start of the spring season. The series champion lost the victory on Friday in a hit against his first rival Sturm Graz.
Championship race remains exciting
After a 1:1 (1:0), the lead is two points four laps before the end of the basic round and the following point division. Otar Kiteishvili (80th) equalized with his first shot on goal. Before that, the home team took the lead through Petar Ratkov (15th).
With a completely new starting eleven, Salzburg coach Gerhard Struber caused a big surprise before the game even started. Compared to the ÖFB Cup promotion against LASK the previous week, there were three changes.
Daniliuc with a strong debut for the Bulls
New signing Flavius Daniliuc was on the pitch from the start and celebrated a strong Bundesliga debut. The 22-year-old formed the new back three with Oumar Solet and Strahinja Pavlovic.
“We saw how difficult it is to score goals against Salzburg. In the league it will be a big task for all teams. In the German league, some teams would like to have these talents at the back. It will be a big challenge.” , Sturm coach Christian Ilzer scattered roses to the opponent.
Ulmer swirls on the “wrong side”
Experienced Andreas Ulmer returned as captain to the unfamiliar position of right wing-back. Amar Dedic – like many other Bulls players – had to miss the game due to a muscle injury in his thigh. In addition, a new attacker, Petar Ratkov, stormed with Fernando.
Striking: Lucas Gourna-Douath was pushed onto the bench by youngster Mamady Diambou, who regained confidence after the LASK win. Luka Sucic also initially had to watch from the sidelines.
Ratkov repays trust with a goal
Of all people, Ratkov, Salzburg’s ninth most dangerous striker in terms of goals scored, scored the first goal in the league’s top game.
The 20-year-old headed a fantastic corner from Maurits Kjaergaard to score his third Bundesliga goal of the season.
“In terms of performance, I saw us doing very well. If we continue to develop like this, it will be difficult to beat us. We should have won the game. It was enough to give them more space once,” summarized Struber.
It paid off that Struber and especially Alexander Hauser, as the responsible assistant coach, had placed the emphasis on stationary balls during winter preparation with many standard exercises. After recovering from injury, Kjaergaard played his way back into the spotlight with his seventh assist. The Dane had already provided two assists against Linz seven days ago.
Storm Graz is hardly dangerous
The people of Graz had a very difficult time with Salzburg’s new game system. Since Salzburg had a three-man central defense with Daniliuc, Solet and Pavlovic, Mads Bidstrup and Co. created advantage situations near the ball in many phases of the game.
“We have to create the scoring chances and grab ourselves by the nose. It’s up to us to improve. It remains exciting, but the goal is that we become champions in the end,” emphasized Daniliuc after his debut (see S24 video above). The ÖFB team player let it slip that there were options to stay in Salzburg after his loan expired in the summer.
Without a shot on goal until the 80th minute, the pursuer remained pale for a long time. Christian Ilzer’s team was hardly dangerous on offense. The Bulls were completely different: with Oscar Gloukh, Fernando and Ratkov, the home team came close to scoring their second goal several times in front of 15,239 fans. Solet (78th), who chased the ball over the box from five meters, had the best chance of making the preliminary decision.
“We have to be smarter in the end and extend our lead as ice-cold as possible. In the end it hurts because in my opinion we deserved to win if you look at the increased chances,” said Struber.
Second Salzburg debutant: Daghim is allowed to play for the first time
Not only before kick-off, but also in the 67th minute, Struber caused a stir with a personnel decision: the Tennengauer helped Liefering youngster Adam Daghim make his Bundesliga debut. The fact that this happened in such an important game shows the courage and philosophy of the series champion. Roko Simic and Sucic had to line up further back.
Without Daniliuc, who made way for Gourna-Douath after slight cramps in his legs, the league leaders conceded the equalizer late on. With the first shot on goal, Otar Kiteishvili (80th) used a cross from substitute Max Johnston. At 1-1, Solet, who had recently made it 2-0, didn’t look good as he let his opponent go.
The fact that there was no winner was also due to Sucic hitting the outside bar with a long-range free kick.
Grazer is another big hurdle for bulls
Salzburg is now unbeaten in six home games against Sturm in the league. Eight of the last nine duels with Graz ended with a one-goal difference or a draw. Sturm has only lost one game away from home this season in domestic business – in November at LASK (1:3), who could reduce the gap to the top duo to three or five points with a home win against Austria Klagenfurt on Sunday.
Lineups:
Salzburg: Schlager – Solet, Daniliuc (67. Gourna-Douath), Pavlovic – Ulmer, Bidstrup (74. Sucic), Diambou, Kjaergaard (74. Guindo) – Fernando (67. Daghim), Ratkov (90. Simic), Gloukh
Missing: Konate (Africa Cup), Baidoo (ankle), Capaldo (knee), Morgalla (ill)
Sturm Graz: Jaros – Gazibegovic (76. Wlodarczyk), Wüthrich, Lavalee (76. Johnston), Schnegg – Gorenc Stankovic – Horvat (46. Affengruber), Kiteishvili, Prass – Sarkaria (90. Hierländer), Biereth (66. Böving)
Missing: Jatta (syndesmosis tear in the ankle), Scherpen (torn cruciate ligament)
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Bundesliga ticker for Salzburg against Sturm Graz to read
(Source: SALZBURG24/APA)
2024-02-09 22:48:39
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