Viennese sides vie for supremacy

When FK Austria Wien and SK Rapid Wien meet today it will be the first time in two years the great Viennese rivals have done so while occupying the two leading positions in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Advantage protected
Rapid, founded in 1898, were the hosts on 13 August 2000 when a 1-1 draw enabled them to protect their advantage at the summit from their city rivals. They will need a victory tonight to usurp Wien at the top of the table as they lie a point behind the unbeaten leaders after collecting nine points from four matches.

Worth watching
Although this latest meeting has particular resonance given the form of the two teams, the Vienna derby is always worth watching. It is one of the oldest club rivalries in world football, dating back to 1911, when Wien were formed, but Rapid have the better record in head-to-head meetings.

Rapid on top
Rapid have always been regarding as a working-class team with a rough and ready style while Wien have the more cultured reputation. In the most memorable meeting in September 1953, it was Rapid who came out on top. Losing 3-0 at half-time, Rapid surged back in the second half to win an incredible match 7-5.

Beaten finalists
Rapid, who reached the group stage of the 1996/97 UEFA Champions League, have twice appeared in UEFA Cup Winners' Cup finals. In 1985 they lost 3-1 at the hands of Everton FC while in 1996 they were beaten 1-0 in the same competition by Paris Saint-Germain FC. Wien's only achievement in Europe was also to reach the Cup Winners' Cup final, this time in 1978. However, they too were thwarted at the last hurdle when beaten 4-0 by RSC Anderlecht.

Lacking bite
The clubs met four times last season but their relatively low standings, particularly Rapid, meant the Vienna derby was deprived of much of its usual bite: something which should not be lacking in front of a packed house at the Franz Horr stadium this evening.

Points and pride
That is because Wien have opted to play the 230th Vienna derby at the 11,500-capacity venue as opposed to the Happel stadium which sits 48,500 spectators. Wien have decided to forego the chance of earning extra revenue in favour of points and pride as Rapid have won just one of the last eleven derbies played in the smaller stadium, and that was in 1986.

Hickersberger bow
The match holds particular resonance for Josef Hickersberger as it will be his first derby at the helm of Rapid. He will be hoping to turn the tables on his former club after negotiating the four derbies in the 1993/94 season unbeaten as coach of today's opponents, Wien.

'Defeat a disaster'
"We have achieved more than we hoped so far but we still need to collect more points," said Hickersberger of his side's start to the season. "Austria [Wien] have invested a lot of money this season and a defeat would be a disaster for them. For us, on the other hand, a loss will not affect us a lot."

'More than a game'
Hickersberger's opposite number Walter Schachner, who will be without leading striker Radoslav Gilewicz tonight, cannot wait for the whistle to sound. "This is more than a game," he said. "We are playing to be No1 in Vienna. Winning a derby means good marks for a coach."

Full-strength Rapid
Rapid will hope their rivals do not instead turn to Christian Mayrleb as he has scored seven of Wien's 13 goals in the previous five derbies. Even though he is no longer first choice, the script could just be written for Maryleb to emerge from the bench and dash the hopes of a full-strength Rapid side.