Rapid coach Thorup reflects on missed opportunity ahead of Bundesliga clash at Ried

Ried look to upset the visitors

Ried, meanwhile, are looking to climb out of the lower half of the standings. The home side have shown resilience in recent weeks and will view the visit of Rapid as an opportunity to spring an upset in front of their own supporters. The atmosphere at the Ried ground is expected to be a factor, with the club's supporters known for creating an intense environment for visiting teams.

Thorup's comments also touched on the mental side of the campaign. The coach framed the upcoming match as a test of his squad's ability to reset after a setback, regardless of how the broader title race develops. The Bundesliga schedule offers little room for recovery, with three more fixtures scheduled before the international break.

Broader Bundesliga context

Stefan Schwab, part of the Rapid setup, has echoed the coach's focus on the next game rather than the standings. The club's messaging in recent days has been uniform: each match is treated on its own merits, and the trip to Ried is no exception.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, the matchday includes a fixture involving former Rapid coach Didi Kühbauer's side, adding an additional layer of interest for traveling supporters. The competition at the top of the table remains tight, with several clubs still within touching distance of the leaders.

Squad and approach

Thorup, who took charge of Rapid after a spell in charge of Holstein Kiel, has overseen a gradual improvement in the team's performances. The coach has been credited with tightening the defensive structure and giving younger players more prominent roles, though results have occasionally lagged behind the underlying performances.

Sunday's match kicks off at 17:00 local time and will be broadcast live. Rapid will be without a handful of players through minor injuries, though the coach confirmed that the squad is otherwise in good condition for the trip to Ried.