Trainer Peter Schöttel went once again with the formula that had been working so well in recent weeks, setting his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Trimmel and Drazan occupied the wing roles, while Steffen Hofmann was again tucked in behind lone front man Guido Burgstaller. Good opening pressure It was Burgstaller who thought he had handed the hosts the lead in the 2nd minute, only to have his celebrations cut short by the sight of the linesman’s raised flag. Rapid aggressively took the game to the visitors from Tyrol and created chances for Trimmel (6.) and Burgstaller (8.). The Innsbruck side sat in deep, trying to made life difficult for the expansive hosts, for whom Schütz’ 20th minute long shot represented the next effort on goal. Burgstaller with golden opportunity on half hour markBurgstaller will certainly feel he should have produced better than the weak left footed finish that was easily snaffled by Wacker keeper Safar, after being put clean through on goal in the 32nd minute by a lovely Hofmann reverse pass. Merino (34.) and Schütz (40.) attempted to create some forward momentum for the lackluster visitors in the lead up to half time. The Green-Whites again started the second half strongly and took command of proceedings. Wacker constantly attempted to narrow the pitch and deny their hosts the space to create. Burgstaller switched to the left wing in the 55th minute, as Schöttel brought Nuhiu into the fray at the expense of Christopher Drazan. Probing to good effect down the right flank Christopher Trimmel cut off his wing to unleash a fierce drive in the 61st minute but Safar was equal to the task, palming the ball away for a corner. With little over 15 minutes left to play Hamdi Salihi was thrown into the action in place of the defensive minded Prager as Rapid searched for the vital breakthrough. The Viennese were pouring forwards but without creating the sort of chances that would unlock the stubborn Innsbruck backline. Gartler came on in the closing stages as the last throw of the dice from Schöttel, but it proved to be to no avail as the game ended in deadlock. Although Rapid will have been disappointed to have dropped home points, the game extended their impressive unbeaten league run to 8 games and firmly keeps them in the hunt for silverware at the top of the Bundesliga. tipp3-Bundesliga, 18th Round: SK Rapid - FC Wacker Innsbruck 0:0Gerhard Hanappi Stadium, 15.300 Attendance, Referee DrachtaSK Rapid: Königshofer - Schimpelsberger, Sonnleitner, Pichler, Katzer - Heikkinen, Prager (75. Salihi) - Trimmel (88. Gartler), Hofmann, Drazan (55. Nuhiu) - G. BurgstallerFC Wacker Innsbruck: Safar - Dakovic, Kofler, Svejnoha, Hauser - Abraham - Schütz, Merino, Hackmair, Wernitznig (67. Ildiz) - BurgicYellow Cards: Trimmel, G. Burgstaller, Kofler (gw)
15.12.2011