Just one point taken in Graz

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·15 February 2026

Just one point taken in Graz

Disappointing 1-1 draw at GAK

Our team dropped two points away in Graz after a hard-fought match. GAK initially took an early lead through Klassen, before our Red Bulls took control as the first half progressed and equalised before half-time with a goal from Karim Konate. Our finishing let us down in the second half as the game ultimately ended 1-1.

Match summary

The first dangerous situation fell the hosts' way as Maderner put Joane Gadou under pressure following a back pass. The Styrians continued to be more aggressive in the following minutes, although our defence successfully held firm. Alex Schlager, in particular, had to be at his best to stop two difficult moments.

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Our lads then created their first real scoring chance via Kerim Alajbegovic. After good work from Krätzig, our young attacking player tested GAK goalkeeper Stolz with a powerful shot from 20 metres out, but the Graz goalkeeper was able to parry the thunderous drive away. Edmund Baidoo's subsequent header on the rebound lacked precision (11').

Moments later, Karim Konate, after a pass from Sota Kitano, had a chance to put us ahead from close range with his right foot, but Stolz was alert again (15'). The home side responded with a well-executed attack that ultimately led to GAK's deserved lead. After a cross from Klassen near the byline, Tim Drexler couldn't help deflecting it into his own net (16') – the 20-year-old centre-back certainly hadn't envisioned his first start for our team being like this.

Our lads were determined not to respond,and immediately tried to equalise. Konate initially got the better of Owusu, but his subsequent lob towards goal lacked precision (23').

We now became more dominant, while GAK tried to manage their narrow lead – but our lads got the vital leveller before half-time. Krätzig delivered a cross from the left into the center of the penalty area, where Konate was unmarked and calmly controlled the ball before confidently beating Stolz to make it 1-1 (40').

After the break, our lads came out of the dressing room with renewed energy and one change – as Maurits Kjaergaard replaced Kitano. The first notable attacking move again came to the impressive Alajbegovic, who, similar to his opening chance in the first half, tried his luck again from about 20 metres out, but was once more thwarted by the Graz goalkeeper (53').

Shortly afterwards, Thomas Letsch's men even had a double chance, but a save by Kreuzriegler from a shot by Baidoo, and also a lack of accuracy on the Ghanaian's header from a corner that went just over the bar prevented Bidstrup & Co. from taking the lead (57').

The Graz team had offered little since the restart. The Red Jackets only managed one semi-dangerous attack, when Grosse beat two defenders and found Maderner. However, Maderner lacked composure in front of goal, and the ball ultimately ended up in Schlager's hands (75').

Almost immediately, our lads launched a counter-attack through substitute Damir Redzic, but Alajbegovic's subsequent pass to the freshly introduced Clement Bischoff in the danger zone was too inaccurate (79'). With neither GAK or our Red Bulls able to find the net, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Views on the game

We have to admit that we were asleep at the start and played right into the opponent's hands. After that, we got the game under control and scored. But we have to convert our other chances – otherwise, we have to be content with the draw, which is a poor result for us.

Thomas Letsch

We were the better team, we were dominant, but in the end, we lacked that final punch, that decisive 'I'll put it in the back of the net' instinct today. We can't be satisfied with just one point. We didn't play our worst game, but not our best either. Nonetheless, our performance next week against LASK needs to be better.

Kerim Alajbegovic

Match summary

Line-ups & substitutions

GAK: Stolz – Pines, Kreuzriegler (87. Graf), Owusu – Olesen, Satin (80. Lichtenberger), Koch (60. Paumgartner), Italiano (80. Frieser), Klassen – Maderner ©, Hofleitner (60. Grosse) FC Red Bull Salzburg: Schlager – Lainer, Gadou, Drexler, Krätzig – Diabate, Bidstrup (74. Bischoff) ©, Kitano (46. Kjaergaard) – Baidoo (66. Onisiwo), Konate (66. Redzic), Alajbegovic

Goals: Klassen (16.) - Konate (40.) Referee: Daniel Pfister Yellow cards: Koch (47./Foul), Maderner (90.+3/Foul), Owusu (90.+3/Foul) - None

Injury news

Not available were Takumu Kawamura (knee), John Mellberg (thigh), Justin Omoregie (shoulder), Valentin Sulzbacher (calf) and Yorbe Vertessen (thigh).