Defeat but no disgrace in Istanbul
The old theory of not taking your chances came back to haunt Rapid on wednesday evening. Nothing was hanging on the Europa League Group L fixture, and with the shackles off, Rapid began to look fluent and inventive, matching the Turkish team in terms of footballing technique. Veli Kavlak donned the captains armband, while Katzer and Payer returned to the line up, keeper Helge Payer playing his first game since september. Seven hundred Rapid fans had made the pilgramige to Istanbul, and they...