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It was September 17, 2019 and there was still no talk of the new corona virus. 29,000 spectators applauded Red Bull Salzburg’s 6-2 win against Genk, and it was 5-1 at halftime. It was something of an initial spark, Salzburg had made it to the Champions League. On Wednesday against Lok Moscow, the Bulls are hoping to have an equally strong start to their second season in the premier class against a new beatable opponent.
>> Live ticker: Red Bull Salzburg vs Lokomotiv Moscow
“Our big goal would be to start with a victory,” said Salzburg sporting director Christoph Freund. The situation can be compared to last year. “There we also had our first home game against an opponent who should be on our neck.” The other rivals in Group A are of different caliber with Atlético de Madrid and reigning champion Bayern Munich. With the self-confidence of the initial victory against Genk, Salzburg had already shown in 2019 against the then winner of CL Liverpool and SSC Napoli.
Salzburg can “start playing without much pressure”
“Under normal circumstances, Atlético and Bayern are stronger, we don’t even need to talk,” Freund said in a podcast from the club itself. “But you never know what will happen in football. We will not hide. I also think we can create a surprise.” Last year, the Bulls played for promotion until the final group game against Liverpool before moving on to the Europa League as third parties. Freund: “Last year we saw what is possible against great opponents.”
Furthermore, coach Jesse Marsch’s team remained almost unchanged during the summer, with the exception of forward Hwang Hee-chan’s departure to RB Leipzig. At the national level, the inhabitants of Salzburg are rarely seriously challenged. Saturday’s ÖFB Cup second round saw a lackluster 3-0 away win against league rivals SKN St. Pölten. Lok won the Russian championship against Ufa 1-0.
Always a league favorite, the Bulls could play “without a lot of pressure” in the Champions League, Freund said. It could even be the biggest against Lok, because Salzburg know they have a chance. “But we also know that Lok Moscow is a very, very good team. It’s definitely all in,” Freund said. In the event of a win, a “really great away game” would be waiting in Madrid a week later, similar to Liverpool last year, when the then-title holder was pushed to the limit after a 3-0 deficit. , a breakout direction much noted by Marsch and the subsequent equalization. He had lost points (3: 4).
Put on a show even with fewer spectators
Although this time only 3,000 spectators are allowed due to the regulations of the Crown, as in the previous year against Genk, they want to draw strength from the beginning. “It’s a bit of a comparison, even if the gaps between games are even shorter,” Freund said. Six days after the home game against Lok, he is out against Atlético and on November 3 at home against Bayern. Freund: “Now we have three games in a row in the Champions League, it goes in rapid succession. It will be very, very important that we start well in the group.”
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