Hot dance for the master's plate: Storm in the fast lane?

2023-04-22 10:00:02

The Bundesliga hit on Sunday (5 p.m., Sky) between pursuer SK Sturm and series champion FC Salzburg has been completely sold out since Monday. More than 15,000 fans have registered to help the “Blackies” to take the lead in the hot fight for the championship title. For that you need a win against the “Red Bulls”, who have to tremble for their status as the untouchable number 1 and thus for a permanent starting place in the group stage of the Champions League. After three meager performances in front of a home crowd (1:1 against Altach, 3:3 against Austria, 0:0 against LASK), the lead has melted to two points, and the season record against the Mozartstadters also speaks for Sturm. Not a single one of three duels was lost, Graz won 2-1 at home, 0-0 away and 1-1 in the cup quarter-finals after extra time, followed by a 5-4 win on penalties.

That spurs you on. “Everything is set for a top game. We strive for the best, that inspires us,” said Sturm coach Christian Ilzer, whose squad includes no fewer than seven players with a Salzburg past: Affengruber, Gazibegovic, Hierländer, Ingolitsch, Jantscher, Prass and Schnegg.

“It’s fun to tease them,” Jusuf Gazibegovic told the media with a twinkle in his eye. Sturm has a high and enjoys the dance at two weddings (the blacks are also in the cup final) to the fullest. In the 2023 calendar year, the Styrians won nine of their eleven competitive games, only losing against Austria Klagenfurt (1: 2) and away against LASK (1: 2).

Salzburg has been warned, the ease of past years has passed. The team feels the pressure. Can you hold your nerves? “It’s not that easy at the moment,” admitted sporting director Christoph Freund: “The problem is that we don’t take our chances. This makes every game more difficult and tighter.”

But that’s not all. The defending champion is worried about injuries. The list of patients includes ten names, most recently captain Andreas Ulmer (thigh problems) and Noah Okafor (ankle).