Pacult made one change to his starting 11 before this hotly anticipated encounter, Trimmel replacing Hamdi Salihi as the tactics shifted to 451. Pragmatism was at the forefront of both coaches mind, neither wanting to succumb to defeat in front of a swelled 23,000 strong gate.The opening stages saw Rapid inviting Salzburg to come onto them, seeing what the Red Bull´s could muster. The first chance arrived on 10 minutes when Zickler´s drive was just wide of the mark. Rapid responded and produced their first half chance of the afternoon five minutes later, lone striker Nikica Jelavic header looping over Gustafsson in the home goal. The two thousand plus travelling crowd were making themselves heard, completely engulfing the stadium in Green White songs and demonstrating to their counterparts what away support is supposed to look and sound like.Minutes after his header, Jelavic appeared to be brought down in the Red Bull box, the referee however remained motionless. The half played out with both sides tentatively looking for openings and little more than half chances being created. The second half started much as the first had finished with both sides gently probing the oppostion, not wanting to give anything away. Steffen Hofmann attempted to up the ante in the 58th minute, his vicious drive just clearing the upright. Zickler was again foiled by Payer in the 66th minute as Salzburg mustered their first attacking threat of the second half. Pacult attempted to wrestle the initiative with a double swap, briging on Gartler and Dober for Heikinnen and Trimmel. Following this more adventurous double change the game did begin to open up somewhat and on 82 mins Rapid went close.Nikica Jelavic was the man again involved for the Green Whites, the hitman just failing to get the necessary contact to convert a good centre following build up down the flanks. Zickler again passed up a presentable opportunity for the hosts, this time from close range before Svento saw his goal chalked off for offside in the final action of the match. A good solid away point caps off an excellent showing from Rapid in the past week.  Seven points from nine against Austria, Sturm and Red Bull represents a great return and will surely give Pacult´s troops all the confidence they require as they head to Hamburg and this weeks mammoth clash against HSV in the Europa League.RB Salzburg - SK Rapid 0:0Red Bull Arena, 23.600, Referee SchörgenhoferSalzburg: Gustafsson - Schwegler, Sekagya, Afolabi, Ulmer - Opdam - Tchoyi (80./Nelisse), Leitgeb (84./Cziommer), Pokrivac, Svento - ZicklerSK Rapid: Payer - Kulovits, Soma, Jovanovic, Katzer - Heikkinen (70./Dober), Pehlivan - Trimmel (69./Gartler), Hofmann, Kavlak - JelavicYellow Cards: Sekagya, Zickler and Dober(gw)
31.08.2015