A good hour before kick off the mini stadium in Bad Vöslau was packed to the rafters and brimming with excitement ahead of the visit of the Austrian record champions. 2000 spectators, including 500 from Vienna, came to see David v Goliath in the shape of Rapid Vienna and regional side Bad Vöslau. The minnows from Vöslau could boast an impressive record of going unbeaten in their previous 24 outings, although the Green-Whites would provide a different calibre of opposition altogether. Tie...

Jan Novota retained his place in goal to answer one pressing question - the other, if Rapid could finally find a victory from somewhere, would be answered in due course. The visit of basement boys Kapfenberg represented the perfect opportunity to steady the ship for Peter Schöttel's charges and things immediately started going to plan: after just four minutes Trimmel's goal bound header was inadvertently blocked by team mate Rene Gartler to let Kapfenberg of the hook. Novota repelled the...

Around 14,000 Rapid faithful filled the Hanappi Stadium, and the noise began to once more flow from the terraces as the ground resembled the Hanappi of old. The first surprise of the afternoon came in the form of reserve goalkeeper Jan Novota taking to the field in place of Helge Payer: The Rapid number 1 had failed to fully recover from a knock sustained in training. The second surprise was how busy Rapid's Slovak number 2 was. Mattersburg came out of the traps much the quicker of the two...

Jan Novota retained his place in goal to answer one pressing question - the other, if Rapid could finally find a victory from somewhere, would be answered in due course. The visit of basement boys Kapfenberg represented the perfect opportunity to steady the ship for Peter Schöttel's charges and things immediately started going to plan: after just four minutes Trimmel's goal bound header was inadvertently blocked by team mate Rene Gartler to let Kapfenberg of the hook. Novota repelled...

Round six of the Tipp 3 Bundesliga pitted Austrian heavyweights RB Salzburg and our squad together. In the glorious summer sunshine, this heated clash was further warmed up by the news that Stefan Maierhofer would be lining up against his former club. Another ingredient to further stoke the fire, as if one was required. The wounded Huetteldorfers, still reeling from events last Sunday, lined up with Helge Payer in goal and a back four consisting of Schrammel, Sonnleitner, Soma and...

Around 14,000 Rapid faithful filled the Hanappi Stadium, and the noise began to once more flow from the terraces as the ground resembled the Hanappi of old. The first surprise of the afternoon came in the form of reserve goalkeeper Jan Novota taking to the field in place of Helge Payer: The Rapid number 1 had failed to fully recover from a knock sustained in training. The second surprise was how busy Rapid's Slovak number 2 was. Mattersburg came out of the traps much the quicker of the two...

The early signs were good: Beautiful warm weather, a motivated Rapid, an excellent turn out in the Ernst Happel Stadium. The game got off to a good start with both teams playing some decent stuff on the floor. It was impossible to imagine what would come next.The afternoon began to unravel as early as the 15th minute when Barazite gave the Violets the lead from 16 meters. Rapid looked to have recovered from the early blow though, and despite efforts from crosses, and in particular a good...

Round six of the Tipp 3 Bundesliga pitted Austrian heavyweights RB Salzburg and our squad together. In the glorious summer sunshine, this heated clash was further warmed up by the news that Stefan Maierhofer would be lining up against his former club. Another ingredient to further stoke the fire, as if one was required. The wounded Huetteldorfers, still reeling from events last Sunday, lined up with Helge Payer in goal and a back four consisting of Schrammel, Sonnleitner, Soma and...

The opening exchanges of the game saw Rapid playing with all the confidence you would expect from a side sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga: Plenty of possession and a decent clutch of chances manufactured in the opening 20 minutes of play. The breakthrough nearly arrived in the 11th minute in the shape of a Steffen Hofmann free kick that home keeper Grazei did well to deflect onto the angle and away to safety. Hamdi Salihi was next to try his luck four minutes later: His diving...

The early signs were good: Beautiful warm weather, a motivated Rapid, an excellent turn out in the Ernst Happel Stadium. The game got off to a good start with both teams playing some decent stuff on the floor. It was impossible to imagine what would come next.The afternoon began to unravel as early as the 15th minute when Barazite gave the Violets the lead from 16 meters. Rapid looked to have recovered from the early blow though, and despite efforts from crosses, and in particular a good...