ÖFB Cup, Final, Wednesday, May 01, 2024
Austria will host a rematch of last year’s ÖFB Cup final and the Styrians are closer than ever to a possible double after their strong performance against RBS last Sunday!
Nevertheless, they could be in for a nasty surprise on Wednesday. The series of duels against Rapid that began 12 days ago could come to an unpleasant end for Graz at the Wörthersee Stadion.
According to my Sturm Graz Rapid Vienna betting tip, it is therefore worth trusting that the Hütteldorfer will come out on top this time when using your own sports betting app
Regardless of the fact that Sturm Graz drew 2-2 with Red Bull Salzburg on Sunday and are now almost certain champions, Rapid seem to hold the better cards for this last game of the season.
The team from Graz have put all their energy into the final championship match against the team from Mozart’s city and could now get their revenge.
Furthermore, after the embarrassing 0:5 against LASK, the Viennese have finally forfeited their right to qualify for a European club competition via their final position in the Bundesliga.
For Rapid, therefore, there is much more at stake against the Styrians on Wednesday than just winning their first title in almost 30 years.
If Rapid win, they can qualify for the Europa League. For Graz, however, the silverware does not represent any additional incentive, as they are already firmly planning for the 2024/25 season in the top flight.
Incidentally, Rapid Vienna lost their first two games in back-to-back fashion during the joint “soccer festival” with the Styrians.
However, the Hütteldorfer were much better in the 3:1 defeat in their own stadium than in the previous 0:1 defeat in Styria. Even if the bare result speaks a completely different language
At the 0:1 defeat of the Viennese on April 19 in Styria, the team from Graz was still clearly setting the tone with xG values of 2.83 to 0.45 respectively.
However, just five days later, SKR coach Robert Klauß almost found the right answer to the superiority of the “Schwoazn”, as this time it was his boys who won the xG duel with 2.07 to 0.72.
By the way: Self-praise stinks in contrast to a good sports betting bonus, but I was right with both my Sturm Graz Rapid betting tip and the reverse Rapid Sturm Wien Graz betting tip for the rematch. Aren’t all good things come in threes?
Of course, the home advantage will have favored the respective side, but on Wednesday we can expect a venue that shouldn’t have any influence on the performance. Because the final will be played in neutral Klagenfurt.
In my opinion, however, the bookmakers are overestimating Graz’s chances of winning the last match of this trilogy against the Hütteldorfer.
Their Sturm Graz Rapid Vienna odds favor the Styrians with values of around 2.00 to 3.60, even though the exhausting duel against Salzburg three days earlier really demanded everything from them.
For the first time in my previous successful predictions for the recent soccer festivals between Graz and Rapid, I’m taking the side of the capital team.
The 5-0 defeat against Linz was of course bitter, but it also belies the actual performance of a team that must now win the ÖFB Cup final at all costs to somehow save the 2023/24 season
You shouldn’t forget that Rapid were unbeaten for a long time at the start of the new year before suddenly losing three consecutive Bundesliga games in mid-April. This team is therefore capable of much more.
The Viennese will also be extremely motivated to avoid a repeat of last year’s final at all costs. Back then, they also lost 2-0 to the Styrians.
Sturm could therefore celebrate back-to-back successes, while Rapid could win this trophy for the first time since the legendary 1994/95 season, when they overcame the same opponent that awaited them in the semi-finals in this edition, DSV Loeben.
Conclusion: If it were still the first game of this trilogy, I would give Graz the much better chance of success.
Sturm simply play the better soccer and also have the more talented players under contract. Nevertheless, in view of the odds, sports betting fans should take a much more cautious approach this time.
In the last direct clash just under a week ago, the odds for a win for the Styrians were almost twice as high as they were on Wednesday in the cup final – and at that time, the reserves of strength had not yet been strained by the final championship match against RBS.
My Sturm Graz Rapid Vienna tip: Double chance X2
