Missed chances see us held in battle at summit

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·9 February 2024

Missed chances see us held in battle at summit

1-1 draw against Sturm to restart season with

The league lead is still ours, but we could have so easily won tonight! SK Sturm had one single shot on goal but took a point back from the Red Bull Arena.

The eagerly awaited big match to restart the ADMIRAL Bundesliga firmly lived up to its promise! Our Red Bulls put in a great performance in front of a wonderful attendance, with only the clinical touch missing from last week's cup win at LASK.

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Petar Ratkov's headed goal in the 15th minute gave us a dream start before Otar Kiteishvili levelled in the final minutes with another header.

Match summary

Gerhard Struber had a few surprises up his sleeve for his first Austrian Bundesliga starting XI of 2024. Flavius Daniliuc made a very convincing debut for our Red Bulls, and our captain Andreas Ulmer was deployed on the right flank instead of the usual left - and immediately looked like he had played there forever.

Our boys made a very determined start to the big match and did not let up at all from the word go. We didn't just control the ball, as we also showed our strength from set pieces again. The two set-piece goals we had scored last week in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup were no flukes, after all.

Solo frontman Petar Ratkov was first in action in the 12th minute when meeting a Kjaergaard corner and sending his header into the side netting. Just a few moments and another perfect corner routine later, the Serb sent another header straight into the away net (15') – and we were ahead! We kept our foot on the gas pedal as we looked for another goal. A stinging Ulmer volley after a great run by Solet on the wing almost provided that, only for the shot to go too close to Graz's goalkeeper making his first Bundesliga appearance - Vítezslav Jaros (24'). The run of the play was clear. We were setting the tone in the first-half, with over 15,000 fans behind us. The visitors didn't fire a single shot on goal and were only able to make their first tepid attacking efforts just before the break. The only surprise at the end of the first 45 was that we were only a goal to the good.

The visitors got more into the encounter after the restart, and the Graz outfit were much more comfortable in possession than in the opening 45.

We still had by far the better chances in the second half with some really fine attacking football! A glittering Gloukh (55'/58'/63'), Fernando (60'), Ratkov (72') and a mazy Solet effort saw the biggest chances of the match - all representing opportunities to put Sturm Graz out of the game. We lacked the clinical touch we needed in front of the opponents' net, however, and football being football we conceded out of absolutely nowhere. Sturm's Max Johnston raced down the right and crossed the ball to Kiteishvili, who stooped to level for Graz with their first shot on goal of the game (80'). We weren't going to give up on the win with that, and a fabulous free-kick from Luka Sucic clipped the right post (89'), but we were lacking a little luck and had to be content with a draw. The league lead therefore remains in Salzburg, and three points are our big aim next week when we go away on Saturday 17 February to face FC Blau-Weiß Linz.

Views

It was an emotional match that we put a lot into. It hurts at the end that we didn't manage to get the win we deserved. We were too sloppy with their one chance, and we didn't manage to press on at the other end. We were the much better team tonight. The first-half performance is just what we want.

Gerhard Struber

It was a really good performance from us, on the whole, and in the right direction. It is a shame that we conceded. We had opportunities to win it today. My position in right midfield today wasn't quite so unusual for me, as I have played there once or twice in training.

Andreas Ulmer

I am pleased to have made by debut in this stadium, and I am very grateful for the chance today. We are disappointed after the match, as we were determined to get a win in front of our own fans. I think we deserved more. Everything is perfect here, and I am delighted to be here.

Flavius Daniliuc

Line-up

Substitutions

Gourna-Douath for Daniliuc (67'), Daghim for Fernando (67'), Guindo for Kjaergaard (75'), Sucic for Bidstrup (75'), Simic for Ratkov (89')

Yellow cards

Diambou (33' foul), Fernando (47' unsporting behaviour), Hauser (52' unsporting behaviour)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Samson Baidoo (ankle), Nicolas Capaldo (knee), Amar Dedic (muscular), Karim Konate (AFCON) and Leandro Morgalla (ill).