Red Bull Salzburg is set to face Go Ahead Eagles in a crucial Europa League match on Thursday at the Red Bull Arena. This game marks the fourth round of group-stage matches, with both teams looking to secure vital points.
Match Preview
Red Bull Salzburg enters the match aiming for its first victory in the Europa League this season. They suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to Ferencvaros in their previous match. Currently, they sit at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga with 24 points from 12 games but have struggled in Europe, losing four consecutive group-stage matches. Their last continental triumph was a long time ago, and the team currently stands 34th in UEFA rankings.
In stark contrast, Go Ahead Eagles pulled off an impressive upset, defeating Premier League’s Aston Villa. However, their league performance has been inconsistent, highlighted by a recent 1-0 loss to NAC Breda. With six points from three matches in the Europa League, they are currently 12th in their domestic league, just outside the playoff positions by goal difference.
Historical Context
This match will be the first encounter between Red Bull Salzburg and Go Ahead Eagles. Historically, teams from the Netherlands have faced challenges against Salzburg, claiming only three victories in 13 previous meetings. Go Ahead Eagles, having conceded first in seven of their last nine matches, will need to be cautious to avoid falling behind early.
Team News
- Red Bull Salzburg:
- Takumu Kawamura, John Mellberg, and Karim Konate are out due to knee injuries.
- Mads Bidstrup and Karim Onisiwo are unavailable with muscle problems.
- Valentine Sulzbacher and Justin Omoregie are sidelined with ankle and Achilles injuries.
- Edmund Baidoo is a player to watch, with a goal contribution in his last five games.
- Go Ahead Eagles:
- Gerrit Nauber and Pim Saathof are out with injuries.
- Victor Edvardsen and Soren Tengstedt are also unavailable.
- Jakob Breum’s involvement is uncertain due to a recent injury.
Predicted Lineups
Red Bull Salzburg
- Schlager
- Lainer, Gadou, Rasmussen, Kratzig
- Diambou, Diabate
- Kitano, Yeo, Alajbegovic
- Ratov
Go Ahead Eagles
- De Busser
- James, Kramer, Twigt, Deijl
- Linthorst, Goudmijn, Meulensteen
- Margaret, Smit, Suray
Match Prediction
Given Red Bull Salzburg’s need to secure their first victory and the relative inexperience of Go Ahead Eagles in European competitions, a closely contested match is expected. El-Balad anticipates a 2-1 victory for Salzburg as they look to reclaim momentum in their European campaign.
