Salzburg vs Sturm: High Stakes Showdown

The starting position

Salzburg will be a cracker on Sunday (5pm, ORF1, Sky). The Bulls are three points behind, but are ahead in the direct duel. Two games ended in a draw, the series champion won the final duel 1-0 in Graz. If Salzburg wins, they are because of the direct duels back in front of him. If the Graz team wins with a one-goal difference, the goal difference will decide in the event of a tie. But there is a storm for now six Points ahead. If Sturm win by more than one goal difference, they would almost seven points in front of Salzburg. Then a win (or three draws) from the last three rounds would be enough. Anyway, Gazibegovic promises: “There will be a storm in Salzburg.”

The history

Salzburg is changing for the first time since 2011 during the The coach in the spring (Onur Cinel for Gerhard Struber), back then the master was called Sturm. And for the first time since 2013, Salzburg are not leading after 28 rounds (back then, 36 rounds were played in the old format) – Austria then became champions.

The pressure

Salzburg has lost consistency, “but the quality is still high,” says sporting director Sturm Andreas Schicker Respect. Quality determined by numbers. The market value is 225 million euros, Sturm’s value is around a quarter of that (55.33 million). “With these requirements you are almost bound to be champions,” coach Sturm said Christian Ilzer. “You have to, we want to be champions,” said Schicker. Sturm also have a second major with the cup final on May 1 against Rapid in Klagenfurt. The second double in the club’s history after 1999 at least realistically.

The management level

Sturm has improved steadily in recent years. On the one hand, this is due to the sustainable transfer policy of Schicker, who took office on 1 May 2020 and was always able to generate money from transfer funds. Next to the President Christian Jauk Coach Ilzer, who also came to Sturm in 2020, is primarily responsible for Styrian’s big day. Before the win at Rapid, his points average was 1.84 points – that puts him in the lead Ivica Osim (1.83) the most successful strike coach in Bundesliga history at this level. Strong scouting system around Boss Paul Pajduch and former team player Christoph Leitgeb show that nothing is left to chance. Also the medical department it is a building block for success. Sturm’s only key player injured, Manprit Sarkaria he has no muscle problems, but he broke his ankle in the game against Lille. The infrastructure problem needs to be clarified;

The harmony

It is a special show from the fans that also encourages the team away from home. A team with good qualities and also with good staff across the board. That was the main thing against Rapid midfield the presentation.