16.12.2009, 13:39
When you mention the number 12, you would usually be using football lingo to address football fans. Often people speak about the 12th man. For Rapid it is the Block-West that makes sure every game is something to write home about because of the fantastic atmosphere. But these days you can mention this number in another context in Hütteldorf. This is because the Green-Whites have set a new record in the current European Cup season.
All in all Peter Pacult’s team has had to line up 12 times in European competition (including the last game versus Celtic Glasgow that is still to be played). First of all Rapid faced Shkoder from Albania, and then they went on to face APOP from Cyprus to set up a play-off for the group phase versus Aston Villa. Up to this stage this already involved 6 matches, so including the 6 group stage matches this amounts to 12 games.
The most goals…
Apart from setting this new record another old record was matched. In season 1984/85, when the team from Hütteldorf got all the way to the final only to be beaten by Everton 3:1, Krankl and co. scored a total of 19 goals. The current Rapid team has scored just as many goals. So this means that on Thursday another new club record could be set against Celtic Glasgow.
…and gaining the most victories is a possibility
Should Rapid beat the Scots they could even set a third milestone. Because this would mean that the Green-Whites would have notched up 6 victories for the first time in a European Cup season. The only other time where Rapid managed to get 5 victories in one European Cup season was in 1960/61, 1984/85 and 1995/96.
So his means that our team could set two new historical benchmarks before the winter break. We are expecting the Ernst-Happel stadium to be sold out and this will play its part in Rapid going into the winter break having set new records.
Kronen Zeitung:
According to an official statement by the UEFA press department, Rapid has the highest average attendance of all 48 teams competing in the Europa League – just above the current UEFA Cup winner from the Ukraine, Shachtjor Donezk and Hamburger SV. Rapid’s average attendance (49 250) is a sensation compared to the total average attendance (18 393). It is better than the combined total attendance of the other three Austrian teams (Austria Vienna, Red Bull Salzburg, Sturm Graz) competing in the Europa League.
(pc)
