"We're in this together" - Ried coach backs VAR

Austria Lustenau is back in the Bundesliga.

Two years after their relegation in summer 2024, the Vorarlberg team is back in the country's top flight. They secured their first point of the new season with a 1-1 draw against SV Ried. That they managed to get their first Bundesliga point in two years was also due to a lengthy VAR intervention regarding a razor-thin offside decision (to the match report>>>).

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However, SV Ried was significantly closer to victory than the euphoric promoted team from Vorarlberg. "We'll take the point, even if we had expected more," lamented Ried goal scorer Jussef Nasrawe, regretting the missed victory.

Despite this, the ex-Bayern junior is highly satisfied with the team's performance: "We controlled the game well with the ball, had a lot of possession, and created many chances." So what are the Innviertlers still lacking? "We need to convert our chances better and intensify our pressing against the ball," analyzes the only 19-year-old.

Great joy in Lustenau upon Bundesliga return

Lustenau coach Markus Mader's joy about returning to the top flight is evident. Mader describes his first Bundesliga game as coach of Lustenauer Austria since November 11, 2023, as a "cool experience" in a Sky interview.

He continued: "It was really, really strong, everything around it. The atmosphere in the stadium was infectious, the people were engaged, it was wonderful."

The Lustenau coach, who has achieved promotion once again, also assesses his team's potential for improvement as good: "We still have a lot, a lot of work ahead of us. But that's fun; the boys are so eager to learn, they always want to improve. And that's why I'm looking forward to the next training week," Mader says, enjoying his work in Lustenau. He adds: "Even more so with a point in the bag."

Five-minute VAR check

One reason for the shared points occurred between the 56th and 61st minutes. Although Jaedin Rhodes put the ball in the net, VAR raised concerns.

For more than five minutes, a possible offside position was analyzed, and the goal was ultimately disallowed. Even after the match, there was no footage available for a long time showing the calibrated line that the VAR team had used for its decision.

Nevertheless, new Ried coach Mario Despotovic does not blame the officials. "It's difficult to see from the outside," Despotovic stated, unwilling to give his own assessment of the tight offside call on would-be assist provider Evan Eghosa.

"The referees are ultra-professional"

However, he trusts the referees' assessment.

"We also attended the referees' training and saw how they operate. They are ultra-professional. I assume they always give their best," Despotovic praised the officials' work.

He added: "We are all athletes, and we do this together."

Weixelbraun: "Then I'll listen to the coach more often"

A trend from the World Cup in North America is also evident at the Bundesliga match in Lustenau. During water breaks, coaches have a completely new opportunity to influence the team.

Such an instruction also led to Austria Lustenau's 1-0 goal, scored by Rapid loanee Dominik Weixelbraun.

Already during halftime, Seifedin Chabbi, Lustenau's striker coach, revealed the tactical idea in a Sky interview: "We told the boys that the right winger should also work the box. It's clear in that situation: if Fabi Gmeiner doesn't go into the box, the goal probably won't be scored. So the player at the far post had the problem: Do I go for Fabi or do I go for 'Weixi'?"

The aforementioned Dominik Weixelbraun casually described his first Bundesliga goal: "It was a great ball from Danilo, I really just had to tap it in," he said, thanking assist provider Danilo Soares in particular. And, of course, striker coach Chabbi. Because "if it continues like this, I'll listen to him more often," the winger laughed in the Sky interview.