A tough international test awaits DAC during the November international break. In a clash between the leaders of their respective domestic leagues, our opponents will be SK Rapid Vienna, who, like us, have made an excellent start to the season and currently sit at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga table.

“During the international break, we wanted to face a really high-quality opponent who could test our strength. If we want to improve, we need challenges like this. Rapid are currently the strongest team in Austria, having won 11 of their 12 matches, so a real test awaits us, particularly for our defence, as our opponents have an excellent attacking line-up,” explains DAC head coach Robert Klauss. “The players who have not been part of the starting line-up recently will definitely get their opportunity and will spend more time on the pitch than they have so far. We want to assess their quality and evaluate their performances against a strong opponent. A few members of our junior team will also be travelling with us. They will take part in our training sessions and, depending on how the match develops, may also get their chance to play.”

Thursday’s encounter will also have a personal touch for our head coach, who was in charge of Rapid between 2023 and 2025. “Thanks to my previous spell at the club, arranging the match was straightforward. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to meet some familiar faces again.”

The team is coming off a demanding period filled with travelling and closely contested matches. After Thursday’s test, the players will enjoy some well-deserved rest. Following the break, the squad will begin preparations for the final four matches of the autumn campaign. “The players need rest and recovery. They have given everything over the past few weeks, with a lot of hard work and tough matches behind them. In our most recent games, we had to fight right until the 95th minute to secure the result. After the friendly, they will have a few days off before we get back to work,” added head coach Klauss.

DAC last faced Rapid Vienna in July 2023. The friendly, played at the MOL Arena, ended in a 4–2 victory for the Yellow-Blues (goalscorers: Krstović 2, Trusa, Vitális – Kühn, Druijf).

The SK Rapid Vienna – DAC 1904 friendly will take place on November 12, 2026, kicking off at 14:00 at the Körner Trainingszentrum powered by VARTA training centre in Vienna. The match will be played behind closed doors, with no spectators in attendance. Fans can watch the match live on our club’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.