Historic Vienna derby captivates fans as Austria host Rapid

On Sunday at 13:00, live on ORF Sport+, the ninth‑round of the Admiral Frauen‑Bundesliga will stage a historic derby as Meister Austria meet Rapid in the Generali Arena, marking the first top‑flight women’s Vienna derby and drawing an expected 2,000 spectators.

Teams and stakes

Austria enter the match as double‑winners and Champions‑League participants, fresh from a 1:1 draw against Inter Milan that saw a late equaliser. Rapid, meanwhile, sit eighth with six points, having started the season with three draws and three defeats.

Rapid captain Sandrina Haupt told ORF, “Es wurde Zeit, dass es das bei den Frauen nun auch gibt.” She added that the away sector will remain empty, mirroring the men’s side where the guest stand stays closed.

Quotes from the captains

Austria captain Carina Wenninger, a former Rapid player, said, “Das Derby ist eine Institution … in Wien sowieso. Da ist eine besondere Spannung drinnen, und wir sind einfach auch megaglücklich, dass es das jetzt auch das erste Mal in dem Jahr für uns gibt.” She reflected on her move from Rapid, noting she left “im Guten” and expects a “positive rivalry”.

Coach Stefan Kenesei described the fixture as “geschichtsträchtig” and a “Prestigesache” for his side, adding, “Wir können einfach nicht gegen Rapid verlieren, ich will unbedingt gewinnen.” At 41, the “Austrianer durch und durch” is keen to keep Austria five points behind leader St. Pölten.

Rapid coach Katja Gürtler warned that Austria’s squad is “sehr, sehr gut” and that her young team must adapt individually, saying, “Wir sind ein sehr junges Team. Wir wollen unser Spiel so aufziehen, wie wir das eigentlich Woche für Woche machen.”

Goalkeeper Jasmin Pal, aged 30, noted the double‑ and triple‑load on Austria makes the favourite role “nicht ganz so leicht”, but remains optimistic about the encounter.

The derby atmosphere will be muted as Rapid have refrained from using the guest sector for three years following the men’s derby riots on 15 February. Austria, expecting around 2,000 fans, opted for a protected ticket sale after Rapid fans planned to appear in white in the neutral area.

Kenesei lamented, “Das trübt ein bisschen die Stimmung, weil ich finde, dass das Wiener Frauen‑Derby ein Fußballfest für alle sein sollte.” Nevertheless, both clubs anticipate a competitive match that will set the tone for the remainder of the season.