Tough Away Game in Graz
After their successful cup match against Wacker Innsbruck, the blue-and-yellow women's team aims to shine again in the league. Vienna will face fourth-placed SK Sturm Graz away on Sunday at 2 PM. In this duel between table neighbors, the Döbling team wants to extend their lead further.
Vienna in the Cup Semifinals
Last weekend, Vienna celebrated a 4-0 victory in the cup against Wacker Innsbruck, securing a spot among the top four teams. The semifinal will be a rematch of last year, as Vienna will face titleholders SKN St. Pölten away on March 30 at 2 PM. Their opponents were defeated 5-0 by St. Pölten in the quarterfinals.
Vienna captain Lena Kovar on the cup match against Wacker Innsbruck: "We were able to gain confidence from the game against Wacker and also see where we still need to push ourselves to the limit. I think the match against Sturm will be the first real test to see if we can pick up where we left off."
Draw in the First Match
The first encounter between these two teams in autumn at Hohe Warte ended in a 1-1 draw. Gebert scored the crucial equalizer just before halftime. However, a lot has changed for both teams since then. Sturm Graz had to appoint a new head coach after Sargon Duran joined the coaching staff of the men's first team. The new coach of the "Blackies" is Tode Djakovic. Meanwhile, Vienna gained momentum towards the end of the first half of the season and managed to secure a four-point lead over Sturm Graz.
Vienna head coach Mark Dobrounig is looking forward to the upcoming match: "It's a bit of a leap into the unknown. Sturm has undergone several changes, not only in their squad but also on the coaching bench. However, we don't want to focus too much on that. We are adaptable and will react accordingly to whatever comes our way while keeping our focus on our own game."
Lena Kovar is also excited about the clash with SK Sturm Graz: "I think this match is the perfect way for us to get started. A win would give us a small cushion, which could be very helpful in this tight race. It will probably remain close until the final round, and every point counts."
Tight Race at the Top of the Table
After 13 rounds, the race for the top spot in the ADMIRAL Women's Bundesliga is as close as it has been in a long time. The top three teams are within four points of each other. Vienna has managed to close the gap to the leading positions. In the return matches already played in autumn, Vienna secured victories against both SKN St. Pölten and Austria Wien.
"The title race is going to be even tighter. Austria and St. Pölten invested during the winter and are pushing for the top. We will try to stay in the mix for as long as possible and apply pressure so that if a slip-up happens, we are ready to take advantage," said Mark Dobrounig regarding the current league standings.
Linda Natter Makes League Debut for Vienna
In Graz, Vienna coach Mark Dobrounig will have 19-year-old forward Linda Natter available for the first time in the league. She already started in the cup match against Wacker Innsbruck, where she showcased her talent multiple times, scoring the 3-0 goal. Now, against Sturm Graz, Natter is looking to add her name to the scorers' list in the ADMIRAL Women's Bundesliga as well.
SK Sturm Graz vs. First Vienna FC 1894
ADMIRAL Women's Bundesliga, Round 14
Sunday, February 16, 2025, 2:00 PM
Messendorf Training Center
