Thus far games against English oppostion haven´t proved greatly fruitful for Rapid, or Austrian clubs in general. In 1968/69´s European camgain, Rapid disposed of record European Cup winners Real Madrid before losing 3 - 0 on aggregate to then English champions Manchester United. 1984/85 saw the Green Whites reach the then UEFA Cup final for the first and only time in their history. Rapid went down 3 -1 to English Champions Everton in Rotterdam. Hans Krankl scored a poachers goal to make the scoreline 2 -1 and this remains the only goal Rapid have scored in competitve action against English oppostion. The Viennese qualified for the Champions League group phase for the first time in 1996 and were pitted with Manchester United. Rapid succumbed to two 0 - 2 victorys. Man Utd´s star studded team including players such as Beckham, Cantona, Giggs and Schmeichel proving too much for the Hütteldorfers.Rapid have faired a bit better against English oppostion in friendlies. The 1 - 0 victory against Liverpool in July means Rapid is leading marginally with a record of 13 victories and 12 defeats. The first oppostion from the Motherland of football was South Coast side Portsmouth in 1907, Pompey running out 5 - 0 victors. Rapid have played various English teams in friendlies, recordeding victories over the likes of Arsenal, Sunderland, Middlesborough and Derby. Rapid have met Aston Villa on two occasions, both in Birmingham, the first meeting was is 1959 and the second in 1981. Both matches ended in victory for the West Midlanders 2 -1 & 4 - 0 respectively.Rapid followed up the 1959 match with Villa by succumbing 2 - 5 in the North East to Sunderland two days later. The 1959 match against The Birmingham outfit will stick in the memory of Referee Lefe. The poor whistleblower was knocked out by the ball, the linesman taking over whistleblowing responsibility!!The 1981 match was played three days after the announcement that Prodigal son Hans Krankl was to return from Catalan side Barcelona. The game against Villa came to early for a second debut for Krankl, but the Viennese handed first starts to Panenka and Sintschenko. A rusty Rapid, warming up for action after the winter break were swept aside by the Birmingham team. Following a 4 - 0 defeat Rapid manager Walter Skocik announced "They were the strongest team I´ve seen in a long time". Villa would go on win the English Championship for the 7th time, although the first since 1910. The same season saw the club defeat Bayern Munich to lift European silverware in what remains the clubs finest hour.Rapid against Aston Villa19. 10. 1959Aston Villa – Rapid  2:1 (0:0)Villa Park, 30.000 Attendance, Referee LefeGoals: 1:0 (48.) McParland, 2:0 (60.) McEvan, 2:1 (62.) HanappiASTON VILLA: Sims Lynn, Dug, Dalm Nealcrow, Saward McEvan, Thompson, Hutchens, Wylie, McParlandRAPID: Pflug (Zeman) Zaglitsch, Glechner, Höltl Bilek, Gießer Halla (Zajic), Reiter, Hanappi, Flögel, Bertalan26. 1. 1981Aston Villa – Rapid  4:0 (2:0)Villa Park, 10.000 AttendanceGoals: 1:0 (6.) Withe, 2:0 (45.) McNaught, 3:0 (65.) Withe, 4:0 (84.) DeacyASTON VILLA: Rimmer Swain, Gibson Evans, McNaught, Mortimer, Cowans Bremner, Shaw, Withe, Morley (Deacy)RAPID: Feurer Krauss, Persidis, Weber, Pregesbauer Garger, Kienast, Panenka, Hickersberger Keglevits (65. Gröss), Sintschenko (gp/gw)
31.08.2015