After three consecutive defeats, SK Rapid have arrived in the Bundesliga year 2025 with a resounding victory over Altach.
Rapid Vienna have recorded their first competitive victory of 2025 at the fourth attempt. Coach Robert Klauß’s side defeated SCR Altach 5-0 (1-0) in Vienna on Saturday, ending a six-game winless streak. The Green-Whites, in fifth place with 31 points, have passed Salzburg in the table for the time being and are thus taking a big step towards the championship play-off. Altach remain last with 14 points after 20 rounds.
Cvetkovic put the Hütteldorf team in front in front of almost 17,000 fans in the Allianz Stadium (8th minute). After the break, Jansson scored twice (56th, 68th), Beljo scored from the penalty spot (78th) and Radulovic (95th) secured their team the longed-for three points and the highest win of the season in the league. Both teams ended the game with ten men after Cvetkovic (62nd) and Koller (66th) were sent off.
Before the game, Burgstaller was honored in the stadium as Rapidler of the Year 2024. The striker had suffered serious head injuries in an attack in mid-December. It is uncertain whether and when the 35-year-old, who plans to end his career in the summer, will be able to play for Rapid again. The recently suspended Sangaré and Beljo, as well as keeper Hedl, returned to the starting lineup for the hosts. For Altach, coach Fabio Ingolitsch was able to call on goalkeeper Stojanovic (lumbago), while yellow-carded midfielder Bähre was replaced by Kameri.
Rapid dominant from the outset
Rapid set the tone immediately, although the first notable action almost backfired. Sangare tackled Zech and got away with a yellow card (2nd minute). After that, the green-whites stormed forward: Schaub initially missed the lead (6th minute), but it came from a well-rehearsed free-kick move. Seidl found Cvetkovic, who scored the 1-0 with a heel kick. The ball was unfortunately deflected by Altach’s Dietz.
The Klauß troupe initially remained on the ball, but Cvetkovic (18) and Schaub (29) both failed to score with headers past Stojanovic. The visitors settled into the game after half an hour and created two chances for Demaku. The 25-year-old first tested Hedl with a low shot (32) and then shot over shortly afterwards (34).
Jansson turns on the heat, two players sent off
Rapid came out of the dressing room with fresh momentum, Schaub had the 2-0 on his foot, but missed (53rd). Jansson did better, curling a goal into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area. The hosts weakened themselves a little later when Cvetkovic, as the last man, fouled Mustapha and initially saw yellow for it from referee Jakob Semler. After the VAR had been consulted and the video images viewed, the referee decided to show him a second yellow card – a harsh decision (62′).
However, the visitors’ numerical advantage only lasted four minutes. Koller was shown yellow twice within two minutes and was also sent off. The resulting free-kick was won by Jansson, who netted for the second time. Ten minutes later, the Swede was fouled by Demaku in the box. Beljo initially failed from the spot against Stojanovic, but the Croatian had no problems with the dribbler. As an encore, substitute Radulovic scored the fifth goal after Börkeeiet hit the crossbar.
Rapid thus recorded their seventh win in a row against the Rhine villages, for the seventh time to zero. The Conference League continues next Thursday in Banja Luka (21.00). In the remaining two Bundesliga rounds before the point-sharing, the opponents are Hartberg (March 9) and GAK (March 16). Altach will host Salzburg in a week’s time, before a guest appearance in Klagenfurt.
