From Vienna city center, the easiest way to get to the Generali Arena is by metro – the journey takes about half an hour. After getting off at Altes Landgut station, it is only a few hundred meters to the ground, where you can admire the small but quite neat and well-signposted stadium. Interestingly, right behind the fence next to it, there’s a housing estate of single‑family homes whose architectural style points to the 20th century. On the other side of the stadium, there are residential tower blocks and office buildings.

 

The logo above the main entrance proudly displays the letters FAK – and there’s no need to take offence, because it’s an artistic concept of placing the A (for Austria) between Fussball and Klub. Back in the year it was founded (1911), that association (with the English swear word) wasn’t as obvious as it is today, now that English has invaded the vocabulary of most countries.

 

The stadium visual display (choreography) was impressive, as can be seen in the photos and video. It’s clear that the fans are well‑organised – and, judging by some of the banners, although they themselves are dressed in black, they do not accept their own team’s kits in that colour, as the club’s colours are violet and white. Expectations for both Vienna clubs are, as always, high – but this time, the visitors from Salzburg brought the locals back down to earth quite brutally. There wasn’t a single moment of doubt as to which team would take all three points. Both their organisation of play and individual skills were the Red Bulls’ strengths. The frustrated fans started leaving the stadium long before the final whistle – well, we all know fickle fan loyalty is. But they’ll surely be back in full force for the next match.

 

After more than 17 years, this is my second visit to a match in Austria – the first was Poland‑Germany during Euro 2008 in Klagenfurt. That was the match where Lukas Podolski scored twice against us – and both times, he didn’t celebrate at all. Few people back then took his declarations seriously that he would end his career at Górnik Zabrze. And yet – since the summer of 2021, he’s been running around the pitches of the Polish so‑called Ekstraklasa, constantly stirring up unhealthy controversies, because although he’s known for his good play, he’s not exactly known for good behaviour.