Preview:Rapid Vienna vs Dundee United - prediction, team news, lineups

Rapid Vienna and Dundee United will meet on Thursday night in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie in the Conference League.

The hosts defeated FK Decic 6-2 on aggregate in the second qualifying round, while the visitors defeated UNA Strassen 2-0 on aggregate to reach this stage.

Match preview

Rapid Vienna narrowly and dramatically secured their place in the Conference League qualifying rounds this term after finishing fifth in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and defeating LASK 4-3 on aggregate in the Europe playoff tie.

Rapid Vienna initially fell 3-1 behind after the first leg defeat, but a superb 3-0 victory in the second leg - including a 95th-minute winner - saw them dramatically secure Conference League qualification.

They have been able to effectively build on that victory throughout pre-season and the opening stages of this campaign, as Rapid Vienna are now unbeaten in their last nine games across all competitions.

The Green-Whites won three and drew one of their four pre-season games, followed by starting this season with four wins from four games - two wins over FK Decic in the Conference League second qualifying round, a win over FC Wacker Innsbruck in the OFB Cup first round and a victory over Blau Weiss Linz in their opening league game.

Now aiming to continue that strong run of form and secure a first leg lead, with ambitions of reaching the league phase of this competition, Rapid Vienna will host Dundee Utd on Thursday.

The Tangerines enjoyed a superb return to the Scottish Premiership in 2024-25, finishing fourth in the top division and securing their place in the Conference League qualifiers.

They started this campaign with a confident 2-0 aggregate victory over UNA Strassen in the second qualifying round of the Conference League.

However, Dundee Utd were unable to build on that win in their opening 2025-26 Scottish Premiership match against newly-promoted Falkirk, as the Tangerines were held to a 2-2 draw.

Despite that draw, Jim Goodwin's side are now undefeated in their last five matches across all competitions, while they have also lost only one of their past six away games.

Rapid Vienna form (all competitions):

Dundee United form (all competitions):

Team News

Rapid Vienna have enjoyed an impressive start to the 2025-26 campaign with four wins from their four matches, and Peter Stoger could decide to name a similar team as a result.

Petter Dahl has scored in each of Rapid Vienna's last two matches, and the forward is likely to start alongside Janis Antiste and Andrija Radulovic in attack.

As for Dundee United, new signings Ivan Dolcek, Max Watters and Zac Sapsford have all impressed in their first games for their new club, and all three are likely to start in attack for the Tangerines.

Panutche Camara has also made a strong start to his Dundee Utd career in midfield, and he is expected to feature with Craig Sibbald and Isaac Pappoe on Thursday.

Rapid Vienna possible starting lineup:

Hedl; Bolla, Cvetkovic, Ahoussou, Auer; Amane, Grgic, Seidl; Dahl, Antiste, Radulovic

Dundee United possible starting lineup:

Kucherenko; Sevelj, Iovu, Esselink, Keresztes; Camara, Sibbald, Pappoe; Sapsford, Watters, Dolcek

We say: Rapid Vienna 3-1 Dundee United

Rapid Vienna have been superb at the beginning of this campaign, and with Dundee Utd's underwhelming performance in their Scottish Premiership opener against newly-promoted Falkirk, we believe the hosts will win this one.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.