Trainer Peter Schöttel was forced into changing last weeks line up Michael Schimpelsberger wasn't available for selection due to him receiving a fifth yellow card of the season last time out. Schimpelsberger instead leant a hand in the press section, helping out with the live ticker. His replacement at right back, Christian Thonhofer, could have handed Rapid the lead but keeper Cavlina denied him following a scramble from a free kick. By this point Guido Burgstaller had already come off second best against Cavlina in the 20th minute from a similar position. The hosts threatened from a set piece on the half hour mark a Kainz free kick just eluded the lurking Feldhofer and drifted out of play and to safety. Both teams were finding openings at a premium and were content to try their luck from long range. Pichler's 37th minute effort was the pick of the bunch but didn't beat Cavlina, leaving the game scoreless as the half time whistle went. The lively first half tempo was maintained in the second forty-five minutes again the sides battled away, neither prepared to give an inch. Despite plenty of good football on show, clear cut chances remained hard to come by prompting Peter Schöttel into a double change, with Kulovits coming on for Prager and big front man Nuhiu replacing Christopher Trimmel. The hosts began to show the qualities that had seen them secure last seasons Bundesliga title, exerting more and more pressure on the Hütteldorfers rearguard. Bodul spurned a great chance for the hosts when bearing down one on one with Lukas Königshofer as he dallied, allowing the recovering defenders to catch up and avert the danger. The Green & Whites were also still looking to snatch a winner, and with little over 15 minutes left on the clock a corner found it's way to Nuihu but the second half sub couldn't react in time and the chance passed. In the 84th minute Nuhiu was again in the thick of the action as he latched onto a cross, he attempted to drill the ball in the far corner but got his angles slightly wrong again with lady luck deserting the Viennese. Deni Alar was thrown into the action for the final minutes but both back lines remained unbreached as the sides were forced to settle for a hard earned point apiece. Tipp3-Bundesliga, 22nd round:SK Sturm Graz - SK Rapid 0:0UPC-Arena, 14.251, Referee HameterSturm: Cavlina - Standfest, Feldhofer, T. Burgstaller, Popkhadze - P. Wolf (79. Ehrenreich), Weber, Säumel, Kainz - Szabics (71. Okotie), Bodul (94. Haas)SK Rapid: Königshofer - Thonhofer, Sonnleitner, Pichler, Katzer - Heikkinen, Prager (60. Kulovits) - Trimmel (69. Nuhiu), Hofmann (89. Alar), Drazan - G. BurgstallerYellow Cards: Popkhadze, Feldhofer, Kainz, P. Wolf Prager, Pichler, Thonhofer  (gw)
06.03.2012