Rapid Vienna

Last Match Paid

Bundesliga

Round 18

Red Bull Salzburg 4 - 2 Rapid Vienna

2021-02-21 16:00 More Reports

Next Match Paid

Bundesliga

Round 19

Rapid Viennavs. Ried

2021-02-27 16:00 More Previews

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Season Guide

2020/2021

Rapid Vienna

In

Bernhard Unger (gk) (Mattesburg II), Deni Alar (att) (Levski Sofia), Andrija Pavlovic (att) (APOEL Nicosia)

Out

Stephan Auer (sp) (def) (released), Stefan Schwab (k) (mid) (PAOK Salonika), Tobias Knoflach (sp) (gk) (released)

After a few years in the wilderness, Rapid have finally had a good league campaign, as they finished the previous season as second, which is arguably the best that clubs other than Salzburg can realistically hope for. Due to this, the Viennese have opted for stability over the summer, and are the Bundesliga side that changed the least during the short break between the seasons. Deni Alar and Andrija Pavlovic both return to the club following loan stays with Levski and APOEL Nicosia, as the Green-Whites actually opted against making any signings over the summer. The sole notable change in their squad is the departure of skipper Stefan Schwab, who had a superb campaign last time around, but has decided to continue his career in Greece with PAOK. It is worth noting that Rapid have had a lengthy injury list in the majority of the second half of the previous campaign and will obviously be hoping for things to improve in that regard, with even Tamas Szanto being close to a return after more than a year on the sidelines. Didi Kuhbauer, who is nearing his two-year anniversary with the club, has obviously formed a good understanding with his men, and will be hoping to continue his good work in charge.

Target

Rapid have arguably reached the pinnacle by finishing second last season and will be aiming to repeat that finish now.

Season Review

2019/2020

№2: Rapid Vienna

After spending much of the 2018/19 season in the wilderness and failing to qualify for Europe, Rapid were under major pressure to perform this time around. Didi Kuhbauer managed to keep his job at the end of the previous season with the club seeing his potential, but it was quite clear that he had to deliver results in order to keep his job. And deliver he did - Rapid showed far more consistency than they did at any point in the previous campaign. Their home form did not pick up until rather late in the campaign, but their away form was consistently excellent and prevented them from having any major crisis periods over the course of the campaign. They also had a memorable Austrian Cup exit, as they managed to take Salzburg to extra time in a game they finished with nine men, only for a 120th-minute goal to eliminate them. They had to cope with injury issues late in the campaign, especially in defence, but Kuhbauer still had enough men available to name strong sides. A decent spell of form in the Championship Group saw the Green-Whites pip Wolfsberger and LASK to second. All in all, a good season for the Green-Whites, but given how good Salzburg are, there are major doubts regarding whether they can improve on this.