Bundesliga Match Day 32 Reviews

SV Guntamatic Ried 3-2 FK Austria Vienna

Austria looked to be in cruise control on the final day of the Qualification Group, leading by two goals against Ried deep into the second half. But the Upper Austrians launched a late fightback and scored a 94th-minute winner through Kerhe, who found the net for the first time in the Bundesliga since netting for Wolfsberg on 16 May 2015. Ried’s first two goals came from Grüll and Bajic, who scored their 11th and fifth goals of the season respectively. The comeback win caps a commendable return to the top flight for Heraf’s charges, who lost only once during the Qualification Group - 3-0 to Altach in the penultimate round. Meanwhile, Austria’s late collapse means they end the QG in second, three points behind leaders Hartberg - whom they will face in the internal European play-off semi-final on Monday night.

spusu SKN St. Pölten 0-1 TSV Prolactal Hartberg

A first-ever Bundesliga goal from Sturm saw Hartberg exact revenge on a St. Pölten side whose last-second equaliser back in March denied them a place in the Championship Group. But the Lower Austrians, whose last-place finish had already been confirmed prior to kick-off, were the superior side in every statistical category: shots (15-10), possession (53%), tackles won (60%) and pass completion rate (79%-76%). Yoda was sent off for Schopp’s men in the 78th minute but the Styrians ultimately held on to take top spot in the Qualification Group. The victory means they earn home advantage for Monday’s European play-off semi-final against Austria. St. Pölten, meanwhile, have a play-off of their own: they will take on second-tier Austria Klagenfurt in the relegation/promotion battle on Wednesday and Saturday.

FC Flyeralarm Admira 1-1 SCR CASHPOINT Altach

Admira and Altach played out a 1-1 draw on Friday evening. Breunig opened the scoring from the spot with his fifth Bundesliga goal, only for Fischer to equalise on the hour mark with his seventh goal of the campaign - equalling his personal best from the 2018/19 season. The leveller was set up by the in-form Maderner, who has been directly involved in six goals in his last six games (four goals, two assists). By contrast, he registered only four direct goal involvements in his first 54 Bundesliga appearances. The Vorarlbergers finish the Qualification Group in fourth place with 23 points, four ahead of the Lower Austrians.

FC Red Bull Salzburg 4-0 WSG Swarovski Tirol

Marsch ended his highly successful two-year tenure in the Salzburg dugout with a thumping 4-0 victory over WSG Tirol. Bernardo opened the scoring in the eighth minute, with Berisha then netting a hat-trick to give the American the perfect send-off. The German youngster’s first treble in the Austrian top flight took his tally for the season to 14 goals - a personal best. The Red Bulls’ 15-point title-winning margin is the largest since the new league format was introduced ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, with the previous two titles having both been won by 12 points. WSG finish the campaign four points adrift at the bottom of the Championship Group, but they have arguably still been the team of the season. Having only kept their place in the division by virtue of Mattersburg’s demise, they have been the surprise package this term and qualified for the top six against all the odds.

RZ Pellets Wolfsberger AC 1-3 SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz

Sturm Graz finally ended their winless run against Wolfsberg with a 3-1 away victory on the final day. The Carinthians were reduced to 10 men in the 28th minute following Röcher’s dismissal, but Joveljic managed to put them in front eight minutes later with his 17th goal of the campaign (the second-most by a WAC player in a season after Weissman, who scored 30 last term). The Styrians, though, battled back in the second half and levelled through Scherzer’s own goal - he is now the only player in Bundesliga history to score three own goals in one season - before wrapping up the victory with a Yeboah brace. Liendl finishes the season with 16 assists, topping the charts by some distance; he is followed in second place by Schick, who set up 10 goals. Sturm will now enter into qualifiers for the Europa League group stages, while Wolfsberg will battle the winner of Austria and Hartberg for a place in the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

SK Rapid Vienna 3-0 LASK

Rapid Vienna finished in second spot for the second season in a row thanks to a 3-0 home victory over LASK, secured by second-half goals from Fountas and Knasmüllner (two). The Green & Whites have always won this term when the Greek striker, who notched his ninth goal of the season, has scored (six wins). Knasmüllner’s brace was only his second for the capital club and his first on home turf. Kühbauer’s charges will now enter into the Champions League qualifying rounds. Their opponents LASK, who finished in fourth spot for the second campaign running, will need to navigate Europa Conference League qualifiers if they are to be represented on the continental stage for the third season running.