Stefan Lainer and Petar Ratkov scored for Red Bull Salzburg, securing a 2-1 victory over Hartberg on Saturday, but the win left coach Thomas Letsch far from satisfied.
Did Red Bull Salzburg win their latest match? Yes, they secured a 2-1 win against Hartberg on Saturday.
The team remains unbeaten after three Bundesliga rounds, temporarily topping the league with seven points. However, the mood in the camp was subdued, with coach Thomas Letsch admitting, “It was more bad than good, you have to say that clearly.” He added, “We won very happily, but in the end, we won. That is the most important thing at short notice.”
Hartberg’s coach, Manfred Schmid, was equally critical of the outcome, stating, “The victory of Salzburg was completely undeserved.”
Salzburg’s “Favorite Opponent” Faces a Stiff Challenge
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Letsch considered Hartberg a “favorite opponent,” a team they have now defeated in 19 league duels. This win came after a European Cup excursion in Bruges, prompting three changes to Salzburg’s lineup. Notably, 17-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic started for the visitors.
The match, played in sweltering conditions at the sparsely populated Datenpol Arena, saw Salzburg dominate possession from the outset. Despite their territorial advantage, clear goal-scoring opportunities were scarce. The breakthrough came after a corner from Maurits Kjaergaard, with Stefan Lainer heading home unmarked for his first goal since returning to his former club.
Salzburg’s offensive efforts faltered afterward, and their defense appeared vulnerable. Hartberg’s Maximilian Havel, however, squandered three golden chances to equalize, twice being denied by goalkeeper Philipp Schlager and once missing the target when through on goal.
Late Substitutions Spark Late Drama
At halftime, Letsch brought on defender Joane Gadou and striker Petar Ratkov. The substitutions initially failed to ignite the team, and Hartberg equalized through a swift counter-attack involving Havel and Dario Kreiker.
An hour into the game, Jürgen Heil made his return for Hartberg, while Dorgeles Nene entered the fray for Salzburg. The Malian quickly became involved, initiating a move that resulted in Ratkov scoring the winning goal.
Oliver Kainz nearly leveled the score, but his shot narrowly missed the post. Hartberg’s final push for an equalizer was thwarted by two saves from Schlager, denying goals from Kilian Kreiker and Fabian Wilfinger.
Letsch Points to Fatigue and Hartberg’s Tactics
“It was noticeable that there was great tiredness both from the head and the body,” Letsch explained, referencing the demanding schedule. He highlighted players like Mats Bidstrup and Stefan Lainer who were visibly exhausted late in the game.
The coach also cited Hartberg’s tactical approach as a significant challenge. “We had huge problems with these long balls. Not at all in the first defense, but we didn’t have good security in the second balls. Then it always burned light -fashioned,” Letsch analyzed. He admitted, “With simple means that are completely legitimate, the opponent brought us into trouble.”
The second half, in particular, was described as “really not a good game and sometimes really wild.” However, Letsch emphasized, “But, and that is simply the most important thing in such a game, we brought it over the line and won the game 2:1 and took three points with us.” He conceded, “We have to play better on a distance. We have different demands on ourselves.”
Schmid: “Efficiency Won in the End”
For Hartberg, the feeling was one of frustration despite a strong performance, particularly regarding the lack of a goal. “If we look at the chances, we don’t need to talk about it for long. Even an X would have been too little,” said Jürgen Heil, who felt his team deserved at least a draw.
Coach Schmid stated that his team executed their pre-match plan perfectly, “we only missed the goals.” He lamented the missed opportunities, noting, “I can’t remember when I ever had so many chances against Salzburg (with a team).” Schmid concluded, “In the end, the efficiency and maybe a bit of quality won.”
