A healthy crowd of 16,800 showed up in the Ernst Happel Stadium to watch the Hütteldorfers take on ex-Rapid player & manager Peter Schöttel's SV Grödig. With Tuesday's monumental clash in Lviv in mind, Zoran Barisicrang the changes: amongst others Max Hofmann came in at centre back, Deni Alar started in attack and Philipp Huspek also took his place in the starting 11 against his old club.

Slow start to the game

With both sides taking a careful, steady approach to the game, it took a little while for the first sights of goal to materialise. The first opportunity for Rapid arrived when a hashed clearance from Grödig defender Denner presented Huspek with a shooting opportunity - which he gladly took - but the shot lacked the necessary power to trouble visiting goalie Schlager (9.). Ten minutes later Hupsek was again involved, this time as provider for Deni Alar: a perfectly weighted ball from Huspek split the opponents defence, but the onrushing Schlager managed to narrow the angle for Alar, before turning his effort round the post to safety (19.). Srdjan Grahovac had a hearts in mouths moment when his loose back pass put Strebinger, in the side for JanNovota, under intense pressure, but Rapid survived the situation and other than that came under very little threat from the largely toothless guests in the remainder of the first half.

The frame of the goal rescues Grödig

On the half hour mark it looked as though the deadlock would be broken: the influential Huspek again played the ball into Deni Alar inside the penalty area, who showed quick feet and no little skill in evading the challenges of two Grödig defenders, before chipping a delightful effort over Schlager but against the crossbar (30.). Rapid were now finally menacing the Salzburg side's goal, with very little coming back by way of repost. A good effort from Philipp Schobesberger that he bent just wide of the target (40.), and a cross from Alar that thumped the outside of the post (42.) rounded off the first half chances, with the wobbling Grödig side by far the happier of the two teams on hearing the half time whistle.

Chances flow at start of second half

The start of the second period saw Zoran Barisic forced into making a change, when Max Hofmann pulled up and had to be replaced by Christopher Dibon. However with Grödig offering little attacking threat the action continued to flow in one direction. The Green & Whites immediately began exerting pressure on their opponents defence: firstly, Stefan Schwabfired off a shot from the edge of the box that went down the goalkeeper's throat (49.); before a beautifully chipped pass from Alar almost played in Schobesberger, but the flying Rapid winger was closed down in time by the Grödig defence and he was unable to get a shot away from a promising position (56.). Shortly afterwards Rapid were left cursing the woodwork again when a towering header from Sonnleitner crashed into the post with Grödig just about surviving the ensuing goalmouth scramble (64.).

Two quick goals end Grödig's interest

With Rapid looking dangerous every time they came forward and the Grödig defence creaking under the sustained pressure, the goal finally arrived: a deep cross was precisely headed down by Prosenik into the path of MarioSonnleitner, who did his best impression of a striker as he hammered a first time shot across Schlager and into the bottom left hand corner - finally the breakthrough - 1:0 (67.)! Shortly before the Rapid-Viertelstunde the crowd were again on their feet celebrating a goal that had killed off whatever fight was left in the men from Salzburg: a swift move down the right flank sawSchaub play Pavelic in behind the opposing left back, Pavelic in turn played a low ball across the goal mouth, perfectly picking out Alar, who had the simple job of tapping home from a couple of yards - 2:0 and the points now safely in the bag (74.).

A satisfying Hütteldorfer performance was rounded off with a third goal after ex-Rapid man Harry Pichler had been sent off for receiving two yellow cards. From the resulting free kick Louis Schaub went on a mazy run that took him into the Grödig penalty area, where he slipped a delightful pass into Philipp Schobesberger who made no mistake, finishing with aplomb from close range to put a more realistic spin on the score-line - 3:0 and a comfortable and confidence boosting home victory (90.).

Trainer Zoran Barisic: "For us it was the difficult game we had expected. I’m incredibly pleased that we managed to get the three points today. But it wasn’t easy, the Grödig players were disciplined and defended well."

tipico Bundesliga, Match Day 6:
SK Rapid - SV Grödig 3:0 (0:0)
Saturday, 22. August 2015
Ernst-Happel-Stadium, 16.800 Attendance;

Goals: 1:0 Sonnleitner (67.), 2:0 Alar (74.), 3:0 Schobesberger (90.+2);

SK Rapid: Strebinger; Schimpelsberger (68. Pavelic), Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann (46. Dibon), Auer; Grahovac, Schwab; Huspek (63. Schaub), Alar, Schobesberger; Prosenik

Grödig: Schlager, T. Kainz, Maak, Pichler, Denner - Brauer, Rasner, Itter (70. Goiginger), Venuto, Sulimani (84. Wallner), Gschweidl (59. Derflinger)

Yellow Card: Prosenik;

Red Card (second yellow): Pichler (91.);

(gw)