For the 37-year-old, who may have to do without Damir Redzic (knee), there will be a reunion. As coach of Sheffield Wednesday, he faced Rapid coach Johannes Hoff Thorup twice in England's second division in 2024/25 - and celebrated two victories against Norwich City (2-0, 3-2), which was managed by the equally aged Dane at the time.
Amane Set to Depart Rapid, Nosa Dahl Stays
At Rapid, after the recent 3-1 victory over Sturm Graz, everything revolved around possible departures - which are intended to compensate for the lost European revenues.
For "number six" Romeo Amane, only the medical check remains before a reported six to seven million euro move to RSC Anderlecht in Belgium. This was announced on Tuesday by sporting director Markus Katzer, who also confirmed the intended loan of attacking player Tobias Gulliksen - reportedly to Kocaelispor in Turkey.
However, Petter Nosa Dahl, another player recently subject to transfer rumors, remains in Hütteldorf. "There was an official offer," Katzer said, but it likely did not meet the Green-White's expectations. "The fact is, he will be on the bus, he will also play tomorrow and will not make this transfer." Although Hoff Thorup explicitly did not demand a replacement for Amane, he pointed out the necessary "drive" in the squad: "We must ensure that the competition is as great as possible."
In Salzburg, rotation is called for, "we need to put fresh players on the pitch," emphasized Hoff Thorup.
Jakob Schöller is unavailable due to a muscular problem, but striker Claudy Mbuyi is expected to be back in action after his meniscus injury - at the latest on Saturday in the cup match against Austria Klagenfurt.
The biggest threat to the visitors probably comes from Salzburg striker Haris Tabakovic, who recently scored his first Bundesliga goal of the season and his sixth competitive goal of 2026/27 in the 4-1 victory over Austria.
The 1.96-meter tall player has made the opponent even more versatile. "He is a real threat, we need to keep an eye on him." Then anything is possible in Wals-Siezenheim. "I am 100 percent convinced that we will have more than good chances tomorrow if we play the way we want to play - and as we have already shown in many games."
Bottom-placed Austria challenged by WSG
Austria is struggling with the familiar early-season difficulties ahead of the duel with Lustenau. Out of European competition - quite predictably - things have been anything but smooth in the league so far. Only Hartberg was defeated 2-0; against WAC (0-3), champions LASK (0-2), and most recently Salzburg (1-4), there was nothing to gain.
Coach Stephan Helm naturally tried not to paint too grim a picture. "We had eleven games in 41 days, many of which we were able to turn into positive outcomes," said the Burgenländer. Goalkeeper Samuel Sahin-Radlinger concurred. Apart from the matches against WAC and Salzburg, performances were "okay to good," the veteran noted. And that's why the "mood is quite good."
Helm: "We want to reach the top six"
Helm, who, in addition to defender Ibrahim Buhari (after his metacarpal fracture), also has Daniel Nnodim available against Wattens, naturally did not want to downplay the situation. "We must be wary," he stated. However, the situation offers - especially to young players - another opportunity for development.
"This will make the team significantly stronger in the coming weeks," Helm asserted, who continues to firmly believe in the season's goals. "We want to reach the top six. And I am convinced that we can prevail over the next 18 games and achieve our interim goal."
The upcoming matches against WSG, Austria Lustenau, and GAK are all the more important, with slip-ups virtually forbidden. A win on Wednesday would catapult the Violett into the middle of the table.
At WSG, there's a slight sense of optimism. With the 4-0 victory over promoted side Lustenau last week, they secured their first win, and on Monday, they celebrated the contract extension with midfield linchpin Matthäus Taferner. The 25-year-old's hopes of playing abroad were dashed, and in Vienna, he is set for his first seasonal appearance for WSG.
