Dorgeles Nene scores for Red Bull Salzburg but Austrian Bundesliga hopes ended by Sturm Graz

FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg/X)

After ten consecutive seasons as the champions of the Austrian Bundesliga until the 2023-24 season, Red Bull Salzburg will miss out on the title for a second straight season. Red Bull fell 2-4 on Friday at defending champions Sturm Graz, who took a big step towards achieving back-to-back crowns.

Despite the efforts of in form Malian forward Dorgeles Nene, Salzburg will have to be content with battling it out for the runner-up position following Friday's defeat. Hosts Strum Graz jumped out to a 2-0 lead inside twenty minutes before Nene's response just before halftime.

But when Gregory Wüthrich restored Sturm Graz's two-goal lead less than three minutes into the second half, the uphill battle continued for Red Bull. An own goal got the visitors back into the match before the hour mark but Tochi Chukwuani put the the league leaders beyond reach in the 72nd minute.

It looks like Red Bull will struggle just to return to the UEFA Champions League next season. The Austrian giants are seven points back of Sturm Graz but also a point back of both Austria Wien and Wolfsberger, who each now have a game in hand. European football is guaranteed for Salzburg but they may have to settle for the UEFA Conference League.

Nene has done his part, scoring five goals in the last five matches of the Championship stage for his club. The 22-year-old Malian now has 11 league goals and 13 in all competitions from 43 apperarances. Transfer rumors will continue to be around the explosive forward who will have an opportunity to increase his stock when Salzburg take part in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.