High stakes start to 2023 with big Sturm cup clash

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·2 February 2023

High stakes start to 2023 with big Sturm cup clash

Top two teams in Austria to face off

It is as many as 97 days since a football was last kicked at the Red Bull Arena, but after over three months of waiting, it is finally time again. We are back in action this Friday 3 February at 20:45 CET as we host SK Sturm Graz in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup quarter-final.

Please note: Tickets are only available online on matchday at the Ticket Shop! All the other details can be found in our latest match day information article:

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MATCH DAY INFo

There is no holding back at the start of the year - losing is not an option in our first competitive match of 2023! Our Red Bulls will be confident after cutting a good figure in the winter preparation period.

We held FC Bayern to a 4-4 draw and then beat Sparta Prague (2-1), Karlsruhe SC (3-0) and Slovan Bratislava (1-0). Sturm Graz have not quite got the results they wanted in recent friendly matches, losing 1-3 to Backa Topola and drawing 2-2 with Dinamo Batumi.

Exciting new signings

Just like us, Sturm have made moves in the January transfer window. They have reinforced their attack by signing Bryan Teixeira from Austria Lustenau - who has more goal involvements than anyone else in the league this season - while Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo is set to keep goal.

Christian Ilzer's side face a blow with the injury absence of William Böving, but last season's runners-up have shown that they are capable of creating enough danger without him.

Classic encounters

Our previous cup clashes with SK Sturm leave us expecting fireworks on Friday night. The Graz side are the last team to have beaten us in the competition, with a 1-0 win in the 2018 final. We gained our revenge by brushing them aside 4-0 in 2021 on the way to lifting the cup.

Views

I am very satisfied on the whole with the preparation period. We had really good facilities in both Salzburg and the training camp in Marbella. The most important thing was that we had a lot of players available and those with injuries have been able to join in again. Sturm have developed really well in recent years and have a similar playing style to us. Our recent meetings have been always very intensive and emotional. That's what we play football for though - it's fun and I am looking forward so much to Friday.

Christoph Freund

These are the kind of matches you really look forward to as a footballer. Sturm have been really good so far this season. We need to put in a top performance. It's all or nothing in the cup, and you can't get away with having an off day. We need to be fully alert from the very first minute.

Matthias Jaissle

I am really pleased that we are back in action, and I feel really fit. We trained intensively and with real dedication. We are facing Sturm straight off, who are definitely one of our most difficult opponents this season. I think that it will be a very intensive and tight match. A positive thing is definitely that nobody will underestimate the opponents, and we will go into the match will full concentration.

Amar Dedic

Injury news

Daouda Guindo, Dijon Kameri (both knee), Bryan Okoh (knee), Justin Omoregie (back) and Samson Tijani (leg).

Live and free on our blog and TV

If you can't be there in person, there are a few options for following the match. We will keep you updated with a live blog on our website, as usual, wherever you are in the world. Viewers in Austria can also watch the game on ORF 1.

Results in this season's cup so far

1st round: SV Fügen 0–3 FC Red Bull Salzburg (H/T:0-1) Goals: Sesko, Adamu, Van der Brempt
2nd round: Union Gurten 0–3 FC Red Bull Salzburg (0-1) Goals: Kameri, Adamu, own goal
Last 16: FC Flyeralarm Admira 1–6 FC Red Bull Salzburg (0-4) Goals: Wöber, Pavlovic, Sesko, Adamu, Dedic, Simic

SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz

1st round: SC Röthis 0–6 SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz (0-4) Goals: Höjlund (x2), Affengruber, Sarkaria
2nd round: SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz 3–1 SV Austria Salzburg (2-0) Goals: Sarkaria (x2), Eigentor
Last 16: GAK 0–1 SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz (0-0) Goal: Ajeti

Further Cup dates

The draw for the semi-finals of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup will be made on 19 February as part of the Sport am Sonntag programme on ORF.

Semi-finals: 4–6 April 2023
Final: 1 May 2023 in Klagenfurt

In recent days two new extra-large video screens have been installed at the Red Bull Arena and are to be used for the first time when we face Sturm Graz. You can find all the information on them here