Win claimed in eventful big match in Graz

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·31 March 2024

Win claimed in eventful big match in Graz

Mads Bidstrup makes the difference

Mads Bidstrup's brilliant goal broke the deadlock and sent us five points clear at the top of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga this Easter. The 1-0 win away at second-placed SK Sturm Graz was quite simply a massive victory!

A heated final few minutes will impact our cup clash this Thursday, with a few players having to sit that out due to suspension.

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Match summary

There was no holding back! The big match started with real verve at both ends of the field. The hosts made the more active start, admittedly, and we had to react to gain a foothold.

It was clear that the game would live up its billing, even if it was also obvious soon enough that it wouldn't be a high-scoring affair. Fernando and David Affengruber clashed heads in battling for the ball and had to sit out for a while, but thankfully they were both able to continue - with our Brazilian bandaged up around the forehead.

We defended well but struggled to have much attacking impact in the first half. With the break looming, we suddenly had the best opportunities of the game so far. Fernando went close after both a deflected Ratkov pass and dream ball from Oumar Solet.

At the start of the second half, it looked like Gerhard Struber had found the right words at the break. We quickly got into attacking gear and in the 48th minute, we grabbed the lead.

A long throw from Flavius Daniliuc lead to the deadlock being broken as his hurl into the box was nodded back and Mads Bidstrup – who scored his first competitive goal in our last match against Hartberg – was placed perfectly to sink a volley in the bottom corner. The Danish dynamite then sprinted the entire length of the field to celebrate with our away fans (48')!

The lead boosted us, and we took charge of the clash against Christian Ilzer's side with only a long-range effort from Jusuf Gazibegovic in the 55th minute that rattled our post coming close to a leveller.

Strahinja Pavlovic thought he had sealed it with an 80th-minute header, only for an offside call to cut his celebrations short (80'). Things then got really heated in stoppage time. Following a tactical foul from Lucas Gourna-Douath, the hosts got frustrated, and Jon Gorenc-Stankovic saw a straight red card for taking matters into his own hands - as did Dimitri Lavalee. Our midfielder was also sent off for his part in the tussle.

No matter, we kept the 1-0 lead until the final whistle finally sounded after over 100 minutes of play and sealed three big points. We are to face Sturm Graz again in just four days at our Red Bull Arena in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup, and it is all but certain to be another belting encounter as we lock horns once again. The three players sent off will have to watch on the sidelines.

You won't want to miss out on the chance to be there this Thursday, 4 April at 20:45, with a spot in the cup final at stake!

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Views

We have been on it for a while now, and the three points today have a special value. My boys invested a lot, and it was every bit the battle we expected - we did really well! That it became very tense is no surprise. It was an important win that does us a lot of good. We could still throw it all away though! We have a lot of matches ahead.

Gerhard Struber

Line-up

Substitutions

Konate for Fernando (70'), Sucic for Gloukh (70'), Diambou for Bidstrup (90+2')

Yellow cards

Gloukh (31' unsporting behaviour), Ratkov (89' unsporting behaviour), Gourna-Douath (90+5' foul), Konate (90+12' foul)

Red card

Gourna-Douath (90+5' unsporting behaviour)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Samson Baidoo (ankle), Nicolas Capaldo (knee), Timo Horn (stomach) and Leandro Morgalla (recovering). Amar Dedic was out due to a foot injury sustained on international duty.