Austria in the box seat

By Raimund Fabi

FK Austria Wien's destiny is in their own hands as the Austrian Bundesliga nears its exciting conclusion, but three key fixtures next month will decide the destination of the title - and the association's representatives in next season's UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.

Tough fixtures
Level with city rivals SK Rapid Wien, leaders Austria are expected to reclaim the crown they last won in 2002/03 now they are able to focus on matters closer to home. Domestic slips against SK Sturm Graz and VfB Admira Wacker Mödling came during Austria's enthralling run to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, although tough away fixtures against resurgent Grazer AK, usurped leaders SV Pasching and Rapid will fully test their mettle in May.

Vastic dream
Austria's only recent upset came in a 1-1 home draw against bottom side SW Bregenz on 17 April, but last weekend's comfortable 1-0 victory at SV Austria Salzburg proved they are back on track. The 35-year-old former Sturm striker Ivica Vastic scored the only goal - his 170th in the Bundesliga - to keep alive his dream of playing in the Champions League again before he retires.

Hoffmann heroics
It may be nine years since the country's most successful club won the championship, but Rapid are sensing their 31st title after Steffen Hoffmann's 88th-minute goal on Sunday gave them a 2-1 home success against Pasching, who slipped to third with the defeat. Seven points from their last three games have put Joseph Hickersberger's team in genuine contention.

Schachner ambition
The signs are also good for GAK, in the Austrian Cup semi-finals and just three points off the Bundesliga summit after five consecutive wins. Hopes of repeating last season's domestic double have not been discounted by coach Walter Schachner, whose transfer funds have been boosted enormously by the announcement of a sponsorship deal with IMG, the company set to provide the club with €50m over a ten-year period.

Troubled Salzburg
Salzburg have also tied up some new investment with local company Red Bull, whose wealthy owner Didi Mateschitz has secured the services of former 1. FC Kaiserslautern coach Kurt Jara for next season. But it may all come too late to preserve the side's élite status. Although they have a game in hand on eighth-placed Sturm, Salzburg are five points adrift of safety after their weekend defeat by Austria.