It’s Derby time! Black and white against red, the “Blackies” against the “Rotjackets”, the reigning double winner against the promoted team – in short: SK Sturm Graz versus GAK 1902! Hardly any other prestigious duel in this country electrifies and polarizes as much as the Graz city derby, which takes place on Saturday (5:00 p.m., in Live-Ticker) is getting its re-run in the Bundesliga after over 17 years. The last time the Styrian rivals crossed swords in the upper house, dating back to 2007, Mario Haas scored the golden goal in favor of the “Schwoazn”. The Merkur Arena has of course long since been sold out this time, according to the league portal Betway.com Nothing stands in the way of the explosive clash between the league leaders and the still winless bottom team.
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Black and white favorite role – table leader dances at “three weddings”
Purely from the omens, everything seems to be going in favor of the hosts “Schwoazn” on Saturday. This autumn, Christian Ilzer’s team is back on the UEFA Champions League stage for the first time in two decades, is in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup round of 16 and is leading the Bundesliga table with 19 points from nine games. Before the international break that has just ended, the reigning double winner won brilliantly in front of their home crowd with 5-0 against an inferior runner-up from Salzburg. “Said ‘Hello’ properly” We have, emphasized the Weizer head coach after the huge win against the Red Bulls – what kind of “welcome” should the city rivals be prepared for?
The “Blackies” won the last two city derbies in previous years, which both took place in the cup competition – with 1:0 and 3:2 they managed to assert themselves. Will you live up to your role as favorite this time too?
Winless bottom team with their first win in the city derby?
At GAK again, after the brilliant advance from amateur to professional operations in recent years, the euphoria resulting from the comeback in the upper house has now evaporated. After nine rounds, master trainer Gernot Messner and his protégés are still waiting for their first win of the season. The “Red Jackets” struggled less with the performances, but much more with the results, week after week – with just four points on the credit side, they currently hold the “red lantern”. Before the league break they lost 2-1 to Vienna Austria.
“The pressure increases, the record hangs, it’s the same film over and over again“, emphasized the trainer at the end. Will the city rivals be able to turn things around? As is well known, derbies are supposed to have their own rules…
Fotocredit: Christian Fauland
