Bitter pill to swallow: Last minute defeat the first of the seasonThe 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...

Fate dictated that Rapid’s first away day of the season should take them to Lower Austria to face Wiener Neustadt, an early reunion for Rapid chief Peter Schöttel and his former employers. Michael Schimplesberger’s involvement with Austria in the U20 World Championship in Colombia meant that experienced campaigner Markus Katzer was forced to fill in on the right side of a defence comprised of Schrammel, Soma and Pichler, an exclusively left footed back four. Early opportunities for...

Crowds flooded back into the stands in the Hanappi Stadium for the encounter with SV Ried following the game behind closed doors against Admira. The Hütteldorfers looked to pick up where they left off against Spaniards Valencia and got straight on the front foot. Ried keeper Gebauer was called into action early doors as Rapid threatened to run riot. Ried represented the toughest challenge of the season so far for the Green & Whites and began living up to their billing after being on the...

It was a strange feeling on Saturday afternoon as Rapid locked horns with newly promoted Admira in the ghost town like Hanappi Stadium. The players from both sides managed to put the situation to one side and got down to business: The Hütteldorfers immediately assumed the role of the aggressor, while Admira were looking to hit their illustrious hosts on the break. Trimmel strikes the woodworkWith thirty minutes on the clock Christopher Trimmel passed up the best opportunity of the game: New...

Fate dictated that Rapid’s first away day of the season should take them to Lower Austria to face Wiener Neustadt, an early reunion for Rapid chief Peter Schöttel and his former employers. Michael Schimplesberger’s involvement with Austria in the U20 World Championship in Colombia meant that experienced campaigner Markus Katzer was forced to fill in on the right side of a defence comprised of Schrammel, Soma and Pichler, an exclusively left footed back four. Early opportunities for...

Skrapid.at: Jan, what do you know about SK Rapid?Jan Novota: Plenty! In the past years I've heard a lot about Rapid. When I was a kid we had ORF (TV channel) at home so I obviously watched lots of Bundesliga matches. I know that Rapid is a very successful club and I'm delighted to have ended up here in Hütteldorf.Last season was a dissappointing one for our club that failed to meet expectations. What are your expectations as a Rapid player?I've heard that last season wasn't the best for...

It was a strange feeling on Saturday afternoon as Rapid locked horns with newly promoted Admira in the ghost town like Hanappi Stadium. The players from both sides managed to put the situation to one side and got down to business: The Hütteldorfers immediately assumed the role of the aggressor, while Admira were looking to hit their illustrious hosts on the break. Trimmel strikes the woodworkWith thirty minutes on the clock Christopher Trimmel passed up the best opportunity of the game: New...

SK Rapid accept full responsibility for the day's events and in the future will implement the following 10-point plan:1. Stadium Bans:SK Rapid will work in conjunction with outside security agencies to identify and ban as many participants in the pitch invasion as possible. We expect figures of those susceptible to the bans to reach between 70 and 100. The ban will last for a period of between 12 months to 10 years. The sentence has been handed down from the Bundesliga senate and is...

The Austrian U21 International (5 apps, 1 goal) has signed a three-year contract. Last season Alar bagged a credible 14 goals in the Bundesliga. Trainer Peter Schöttel: "I'm delighted that following extensive negotiations with Kapfenberg, were able to bring one of the hottest properties in Austrian football in the shape of Deni Alar to Hütteldorf. I’m convinced that in coming seasons Alar will play a pivotal role for us."Deni Alar, fresh from his exploits with the U21 National Team in...

SK Rapid accept full responsibility for the day's events and in the future will implement the following 10-point plan:1. Stadium Bans:SK Rapid will work in conjunction with outside security agencies to identify and ban as many participants in the pitch invasion as possible. We expect figures of those susceptible to the bans to reach between 70 and 100. The ban will last for a period of between 12 months to 10 years. The sentence has been handed down from the Bundesliga senate and is...