A few words about the rival: Rapid Vienna

Wisła Kraków advanced to the next round of Europa League qualifying with a 4-1 victory over KF Llapi. They now face Rapid Vienna, a team whose name may be more familiar to many fans. Nevertheless, it's worth briefly highlighting their rival's fascinating history.

Rapid Wien is undeniably the most successful club in the Austrian Ekstraklasa. They have won a record 32 Austrian championships and, among other things, 14 Austrian cups. Rapid's history dates back to the 19th century, when in 1899, the Viennese Workers' Football Club adopted the name SK Rapid Wien, a name that remains in use to this day. The derby with their local rival FK Austria has become a permanent fixture in football history and continues to attract huge interest. It's safe to say that in recent years, Rapid has entered a new era in the club's history. In 2016, their new Allianz Stadion opened, and the club's management is constantly striving to strengthen the squad to regain the Austrian championship from RB Salzburg.

Our opponents finished the previous season in fourth place, which guarantees qualification for the Europa League. They also reached the Austrian Cup final, but were defeated 2-1 by Sturm Graz. European competition is no stranger to Rapid, although the Danube club celebrated its greatest triumphs relatively recently. In 1985 and 1996, they reached the Cup Winners' Cup finals, losing 3-1 to Everton and 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

The clash between Wisła and Vienna won't be the first meeting in the history of the two teams. The White Star first played Rapid exactly 100 years ago – on July 22, 1924. According to reports, that match somewhat disappointed observers, ending 2-1 for the visitors in their Green and White kits. The next clash took place in 1957, with a 1-1 draw in pouring rain at the stadium on Reymonta Street. The saying "third time's the charm" applies here, as the third time these two teams met, the Kraków team ultimately prevailed. Kazimierz Kmiecik's Wisła defeated the Austrians 2-0 away in 1977, with Moskal's current assistant coach scoring one of the goals. This was their last match together.

Nearly half a century later, these two storied clubs have the opportunity to meet again. Tonight at 6:00 PM, the first whistle will sound in a UEFA competition that will continue the story of this fascinating rivalry. Who will emerge victorious this time?