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Red Bull Salzburg’s task was no easier when they participated in the soccer Champions League for the second time.
In the draw in Geneva on Thursday, the national series champions landed in Group A with defending champions Bayern Munich, Atlético de Madrid and Lok Moscow. “The group is more difficult than last year,” captain Andreas Ulmer says frankly. For coach Jesse Marsch it is “the hardest thing” ever.
The day after the lackluster, but easier promotion against Maccabi Tel Aviv, which ended the “qualifying curse” on the twelfth attempt, the fate of the hammer came, that the merry Ulmer trio, the march and the sporting director Christoph Freund at a press conference in the arena itself responded with great respect, but also with anticipation.
“We are definitely playing with courage and looking for our best performance. We have learned a lot from last year,” explains Marsch, whose team defeated Genk twice, drew against Napoli and challenged Liverpool in both games. The reward was the transfer of the third to the Europa League.
March: “Many shouted ‘please Group A'”
Marsch doesn’t want to name specific targets just yet. “Many (players, note) shouted ‘no group A’ in the draw, many shouted ‘please group A’. Our guys have a great passion to play against the best opponents. It’s an advantage, a young woman Having troops, still they don’t think about it too much. “
Ulmer, the oldest “bull”, is convinced: “Nothing is impossible, we have played many good international matches. We do not need to hide or be afraid.”
The adventure begins on 20./21. October, UEFA intends to announce the exact match regulations no later than Friday noon. The Continental Association also announced Thursday that they could play in front of spectators again, and that they want to allow fans to re-enter stadiums starting next week.
However, the specific design rests with the local authorities. Currently 3,000 spectators are allowed in the Red Bull Arena in Wals-Siezenheim. “That would be an absolute advantage,” says Freund.
Freund: “Great games for us”
CL’s three current season opponents are uncharted territory for the “bulls”, but the sensational 3-0 win over Bayern in January 2014 is still well remembered. Of course, only Andreas Ulmer and Andre Ramalho are still on board from Salzburg. “This is something very special and a very, very important game for us,” Freund said.
There is not much more to say about the record champion of Germany (30), who recently won the Bundesliga eight times in a row. With six titles, Bayern is the third best team in the history of the championship and the CL, behind Real Madrid (13) and AC Milan (7) or equal with Liverpool.
In the latest hit, Robert Lewandowski became the king of shooters with 15 goals. Bayern veteran Thomas Müller spoke on Thursday. “A very interesting group,” calls the constellation. “As the current champion of the Champions League, you are already under pressure in the group stage.”
Good chance against Lok Moscow
Atlético de Madrid is still waiting for a CL win. However, the colchoneros are considered a very unpleasant rival who, with coach Diego Simeone, who has been working since 2011, does less for the eyes than for the defense and, therefore, quite successful.
A championship title (2014), two Europa League victories (2012 and 2018) and two CL finals (2014 and 2016 each against Real Madrid) are under the aegis of the Argentine. With FC Barcelona’s Luis Suárez, Atlético recently reported a spectacular attack on offense. “It’s amazing the passion, intensity and emotions that they play out,” says Freund.
The gray mouse in the group is Lok Moscow. The Russians are three-time national champions (most recently in 2018) and were able to advance to the last sixteen of the CL in 2003/04. The most famous player is forward Fedor Smolov. Lok is the Russian club with the most appearances against Austrian clubs. In nine games, with two draws, only Rapid (CL 2005 classification) and FC Tirol (CL 2001 classification) achieved victories.
The group stage could be extended until the end of January
The goal of all clubs is Istanbul, where the final will be played on May 29, 2021. In the group stage there is a real date hunt until Christmas. The game will be played on 20./21. and 27./28. October 3 and 4 and 24./25. November 1 and 2 and 8/9. December.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there could be more game cancellations, then somehow a new alternate date must be found. UEFA reserves the right to extend the group stage until January 28.
If it cannot be concluded for “any reason”, the UEFA Executive Committee will decide on the composition of the knockout round, the umbrella federation announced.
Text as: © LAOLA1.at
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