On Thursday starts the group stage of the
UEFA Europa League, previously called UEFA Cup. In group C
Rapid Vienna hosts
Hamburger SV at the Happel-Stadium. Hamburg starts the group stage as favourite, while the Austrian record champion Rapid Vienna is the underdog in group C.
SK Rapid Vienna started the UEFA Europa League 2009-10 in the second qualifying round, where the Green-Whites beat Vllaznia Shkoder from Albania 8-0 on aggregate (5-0 at home; 3-0 away). In the third qualifying round Rapid Vienna won the home match against Cypriot cup-winner APOP Kinyras Peyias with 2-1. The second leg in Cyprus ended after regular time 1-2, hence the extra time decided which team qualify for the play-offs. In the extra time Rapid newcomer Christopher Trimmel scored the important goal to the 2-2 draw. In the play-offs Rapid Vienna eliminated the English Premier League club Aston Villa on away goals (1-0 at home; 1-2 away). SK Rapid Vienna faces in the Austrian championship only rank 6, but they have one game in hand.
Hamburg started the competition in the third qualifying round, where the HSV beat Randers FC 4-1 on aggregate. Excellent were the play-offs against French cup-winner EA Guingamp. Hamburg won the first leg in France with 5-1, forward Mladen Petrić scored a hat-trick. The second leg in Hamburg ended with 3-1 for HSV. Hamburg is also in the German Bundesliga on top. After 5 matchdays the team of coach Bruno Labbadia is unbeaten and leads the league table (4 wins, 1 draw).
Football, UEFA Europa League, Group G: Lazio Roma vs FC Red Bull Salzburg
SK Rapid Wien vs Hamburger SV
Fixture: Thursday, 17.09.2009, 7:00 pm CET
Stadium: Vienna, Happel-Stadium
Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
Injured:
Rapid Vienna: Jürgen Patocka, Milan Jovanovic, Christopher Trimmel
Hamburger SV: Paolo Guerrero, Collin Benjamin, Bastian Reinhardt, Alex Silva
Tip: Rapid Vienna is the underdog, but I think they can especially surprise in the home match. At the Happel-Stadium 50.000 fans will support the Grean-Whites. Rapid Vienna has won all 3 home matches on the road to the UEFA Europa League group stage, hence I think that Rapid can also win against Hamburg.
my first tip is 1X (double chance)
the best odd is on Expekt, odd 2.05
my second tip is 1
the best odd is on Bet-at-Home, odd 4.90
