Rapid celebrates away win as Sturm Graz fights in the Lavanttal

In the Gugl stadium in Linz, the team from Hütteldorf celebrated the eighth Bundesliga round with exuberant jubilation after a long international break, because Rapid reclaimed the league lead there with a 2-0 away win against the reigning double champions LASK.

Successes and setbacks in the Bundesliga

Rapid dominated the match in Linz: more possession, more chances and, in the end, two goals. The 2-0 away win against LASK restored the league lead that had been lost on Saturday in Salzburg. This makes Rapid now a serious title contender.

Some things in Austria are as certain as the amen in prayer: summer brings construction sites, winter a debate about lift ticket prices, and autumn the decline of Rapid. In the autumn there are still eight league matches left, and a possible home win against Hartberg could end the soaring run. At present, however, the team looks as solid as it hasn't in a long time.

The relegation of Wolfsberger AC from the Lavanttal is particularly astonishing: after a 0-3 defeat to Altach the team sits at the bottom of the table. In less than a year and a half the club went from the 2025 cup winner to the leader of the relegation zone, without bankruptcy or point deductions. Despite millions in transfer revenue, coach Thomas Silberberger failed to build a potent squad, and after the match he questioned the Bundesliga suitability of his players.

Rapid is unstoppable in Linz as LASK falters before Champions League tie

Sturm Graz: thin offense and upcoming workload

Sturm meanwhile faces a hard test, as the offense has almost completely collapsed: Kiteishvili, Jatta, Grgic, Mamageishvili, Rozga and Weiper are missing. Nevertheless, Oumar Diakite, on loan from Stade Reims, secured the 2-0 win against Austria with a brace. After this success the team still lags behind the top trio Rapid, Salzburg and LASK.

Diakite needed hardly any time to settle: after four appearances he has already scored three goals. His goal instinct will be needed in the autumn like a daily bread for Sturm.

Until the next international break, Fabio Ingolitsch must play eight games in just under four weeks. The Graz side also expects fixtures against Bournemouth, Olympique Marseille and Salzburg, which further increases the workload.

The eighth round shows how quickly joy can blossom in Hütteldorf, while in the Lavanttal the feeling of a crash dominates. These contrasts highlight the range of the Austrian Bundesliga.