One Strong Half, One Dull Half - Why?

A quick goal, then sustained pressure for a second, but ultimately a long, uninspired summer kickabout. And that despite the late kick-off on what was already a comparatively merciful day of this heatwave.

SK Rapid's 1-0 win over SCR Altach was their fourth victory in four competitive matches, and the higher quality of the Vorarlberg team, compared to the first two "sparring partners," was clearly evident.

The win could have been by a wider margin - or it could have slipped out of their grasp in the final phase, as the 'Rheindörfler' were practically invited to take control of the match.

Because in the end, they failed to score against the 'Hütteldorfer' for the ninth time in the last ten matches, the green-and-white's opening victory in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga endured.

Incidentally, this is the third consecutive time that a league season for Rapid begins with a 1-0 score. Their recently moderately successful final records show that, statistically speaking, this is no indicator whatsoever.

That Brings Andi Herzog No Joy

Then the search for causes began: Was it the heat, creeping inaccuracies - or already fatigue? Andreas Herzog was less pleased with the latter explanation on "Sky" (Read more HERE>>>).

Words that players and coaches could not hear. At least it was cited as a partial explanation.

"In the second half, we became tired, and some of our decisions were not the best," explained Johannes Hoff Thorup, who, before that, could be pleased with a respectable first half: "Some really good things happened there, and chances for another goal were also present."

But the finishing - it remains a problem that Rapid, at least in these 90 minutes, once again could not shake off.

"I understand the players, I'm tired too," the coach said, giving them a bit of backing, but already criticized the tactical aspects of the uninspired second half: "We could be more direct in moments where spaces open up for us on the wings. And sometimes, conversely, we were even a bit too quick, instead of holding onto the ball."

Thus, from an outside perspective, it just looked like uninspired play.

The Running Machine Would Have Liked to Run Less

Matthias Seidl received special praise, who, along with Nico Bajlicz, had to do a lot of running in midfield. A bit too much for the captain's taste.

"We had many quick attacks forward, but then we also lost the balls quickly and all had to run back. All that running was not necessarily necessary."

And once Niklas Hedl also had to make a save, after a Massombo cross bounced off the post into the field and Raguz was in the right place.

"The cross gets longer and longer. Everyone knows what I'm talking about when I say that's a really nasty ball," the goalkeeper was as satisfied with his most important moment as he was with the outcome of the game.

In Estonia Against a Wall?

Now it's off to Estonia during the week. Heat will not be an issue at Paide Linnameeskond.

"It will be a different game than those against Santa Coloma, because they don't press in the same way. In the last game, they were very defensive," Hoff Thorup's staff was already occupied with the first Estonian opponent in Rapid's history.

Further rotation will also lead to Andi Herzog likely not having to hear the unwelcome explanation a second time, at least on Thursday.