Looking to squeeze into a Champions League spot on the final day, Red Bull Salzburg welcome Rapid Vienna to Red Bull Arena in the Austrian Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.
Die Roten Bullen managed a vital 2-1 success over BW Linz last time out, whilst the Green and Whites picked up a shock victory over title-chasing Sturm Graz.
Match preview
© Imago
Claiming 10 straight Austrian crowns between 2014 and 2023, Red Bull Salzburg have experienced a change of fortunes in recent times, with Saturday afternoon's hosts at Red Bull Arena on course for their worst top-flight placement since the beginning of the 2010s.
Die Roten Bullen are unable to compete for a first-placed finish during the final gameweek of the 2024-25 campaign owing to their patchy form of late, with the hosts winning two, drawing one and losing two of their last five matches, a run which includes damaging defeats to Wolfsberger and Sturm Graz.
However, the perennial Austrian champions managed a much-needed maximum last Sunday afternoon, when second-half strikes from Petar Ratkov and Edmund Baidoo were enough for three points at Hofmann Personal Stadion at the expense of BW Linz, who sit bottom of the championship group.
After 31 matches of the top-flight term, RB Salzburg are currently occupying fourth spot in the championship group of the Austrian Bundesliga, four points from Sturm Graz in first but only one point behind second-placed Austria Vienna, meaning that Champions League qualification remains a possibility for Die Roten Bullen.
The latest star to be produced in the RB Salzburg system, Nene Dorgeles has been a shining light for Thomas Letsch's side in challenging circumstances of late, with the 22-year-old attacker netting six goals across nine matches in the championship group to date.
Since the appointment of Stefan Kulovits as interim coach until the end of the campaign in April, Rapid Vienna have lost just one of their four Austrian Bundesliga contests, meaning that they will have a shot at making it back into the Conference League for the 2025-26 term.
The Green and Whites were in the reckoning to lift UEFA's third-tier club competition this Spring, but the Austrian giants suffered a shock defeat during the quarter-final stage, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Swedish side Djurgardens IF, who went on to face Chelsea in the final four.
Focusing on domestic matters, Rapid Vienna have enjoyed back-to-back Bundesliga successes for the first time since October recently, managing a 2-1 victory over local rivals Austria Vienna on May 11 before smashing league-leading Sturm Graz 3-1 last time out on Sunday afternoon.
After securing consecutive triumphs over the division's top-two outfits, the Green and Whites are assured of a fifth-placed finish in the championship group and await a two-legged playoff against the winner of the relegation group for a spot in the Conference League.
Following two years of struggles in the German Bundesliga at Augsburg, loanee Dion Drena Beljo is the main man in the Rapid Vienna forward line, with the 23-year-old Croatian bagging 19 goals across all competitions during 2024-25, including 10 strikes in the Austrian top flight.
Team News
![Image shows Isak Jansson (Rapid). Rapid vs Milan, test match VIENNA,AUSTRIA - SOCCER - ADMIRAL Bundesliga, Serie A, SK Rapid Wien vs AC Milan, test match, 20/07/24 [on July 23, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/isak-jansson.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Image shows Isak Jansson (Rapid). Rapid vs Milan, test match VIENNA,AUSTRIA - SOCCER - ADMIRAL Bundesliga, Serie A, SK Rapid Wien vs AC Milan, test match, 20/07/24 [on July 23, 2024]")
© Imago
Red Bull Salzburg remain without the services of last season's leading marksman Karim Konate, who suffered a serious knee injury at the end of November.
The hosts' options in forward areas are limited further by the absence of Moussa Kounfolo Yeo, with the 20-year-old picking up a knee issue at the beginning of May.
Die Roten Bullen are also battling on without key first-team defenders, including left-back Daouda Guindo (knee) and centre-back Hendry Blank (muscle).
Rapid Vienna are unable to call upon the services of Jakob Scholler, who played one match in the Championship Group before suffering a muscle injury.
The same narrative applies to Amin Groeller, with the 20-year-old missing the last three matches for the Green and Whites due to a reported lack of fitness.
Red Bull Salzburg possible starting lineup:
Schlager; Ratkov, Gadou, S Baidoo, Terzic; Kawamura, Bidstrup, Dorgeles, Gloukh; Vertessen, E Baidoo
Rapid Vienna possible starting lineup:
Hedl; Bolla, Vincze, Ahoussou, Yao; Oswald, Amane, Seidl, Burgstaller, Jansson; Radulovic
We say: Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 Rapid Vienna
With Champions League qualification still a possibility, Red Bull Salzburg will be desperate to salvage something from a disappointing campaign.
Rapid Vienna will have one eye on their upcoming Conference League playoff, meaning that a heavy defeat could be on the menu at Red Bull Arena.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Carter White
