Rapid Wien

Make The Case

Here is the argument for Rapid Wien: Austria, Austria Bundesliga, and a ground called Allianz Stadion. A second team should give you something your first one cannot, and this is a different country's whole weather system.

• Easy weekend

  Vienna International Airport (VIE) is about 25km from the ground, and Wien Hütteldorf railway station is 0km closer still. A home fixture is a genuinely doable two-night trip.

• The calendar you inherit

  Following Austria Bundesliga means odd kick-off hours, a new commentary language and a table you will check before your own club's. Austria becomes part of your week.

• Old enough to matter

  1899 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Something to defend

  The cabinet is not empty: Runners-up: 1984–85, 1995–96. Small enough to recite from memory, big enough to argue about in a pub.