Rapid Vienna vs Dundee United Predictions

• Rapid Vienna reached the Conference League quarter-finals last season after finishing fourth in the League stage
• Dundee United have not played in European competition proper in over 30 years
• Dundee United have lost three of their last four away European qualifiers

Retooled Rapid ready for another Euro run  

Dundee United will need to pull something special out of the bag to avoid defeat to an in-form Rapid Vienna side on Thursday. The Austrian outfit have won four out of four this season and dismissed Montenegrins Decic 6-2 over two legs in the second round of Conference League qualifying.

It seems harsh on the Viennese, who reached the quarter-finals of this competition last term after waltzing through the League phase, that they have had to enter qualifying at such an early stage.

A lengthy European adventure affected their domestic form and they finished only fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga, but Peter Stoger’s side have retooled with some exciting signings from Italy and Belgium.

Damage limitation for Dundee United

Sassuolo loanee Janis Antiste combined with ex-Mechelen winger Petter Nosa Dahl to earn them a 1-0 win over Blau-Weiss Linz on Sunday, although it should have been more.

The two-time Cup Winners Cup runners-up are much more seasoned in Europe than United, who won their first qualifying tie in seven attempts when they overcame Luxembourgish minnows Strassen in the previous round.

Jim Goodwin’s men were pegged back twice by Premiership newcomers Falkirk on Sunday for an opening weekend draw and look unlikely to trouble Rapid too much based on that showing.

Back the home side to clinch at least a two-goal advantage to take to Tayside. The Terrors were trounced 7-0 by AZ three years ago and will probably be in damage limitation mode.