Champions League: Salzburg celebrates key victory in Moscow

Salzburg headed for victory at Lok in the first half. Against the wall of Moscow people, the guests gradually approached the tour. A goal by Mergim Berisha was rightly denied, then the striker scored 1-0 (28th) and increased after a remarkable pass from Sekou Koita (41st) – already his fourth and fifth goals in the Champions League. . After a foul by Andre Ramalho, Anton Mirantschuk brought Lok from a penalty (79th), but Karim Adeyemi scored as a “wild card” (81st).

Salzburg (4) beat the Russians (3) and would have the right to go to the Europa League as third. In the second game, group-winning Bayern (13) saved a 1-1 at Atlético (6) with a B-Elf that included some regulars like ÖFB star David Alaba in the starting eleven . The “Joker” Thomas Müller (86th) tied the advantage of Joao Félix (26th) with a penalty.

Final promotion against Atlético

At the end of the group stage, Salzburg will face the Spanish at home next Wednesday and will be able to qualify for the round of 16 for the first time with a home win in their second appearance. In the parallel match, Bayern will also face Lok Moscow at home.

Daka returns to the squad

The starting position before Salzburg’s duel with Lok in the Moscow winter was very clear. “We have to win,” said coach Jesse Marsch, who put up the same team as the previous one in the 3-1-1 win against Bayern. With Patson Daka, the American could once again rely on his most accurate attacker on the team, the 22-year-old from Zambian recovered earlier than expected after a muscle injury and was sitting on the bench.

Lok’s coach Marko Nikolic was also unable to call in top scorer Anton Mirantschuk early on due to a cold. Striker Fyodor Smolow, who injured his hip, did not play at all and, compared to the last 0-0 away win against Atlético, the Moscow starting line-up changed by six positions. The Serbian coach started with no less than eight defenders.

Season record for Salzburg

For the first time since the end of October, the “Bulls” competed in front of the spectators, and at a Salzburg match at the Lokomotiv stadium there were more people than ever in this CoV-dominated season. 7,000 Russian fans saw a confusing opening phase in which Salzburg was able to put the first punctures. However, Sekou Koita did not come to a conclusion on the counterattack (5th) and after a mistake by Lok’s head of defense, Vedran Corluka (8th) in the guests’ penalty area.

A game that was to be expected based on the initial line-up developed: the home team went back a long way, took no risks and waited for the counterattack. The guests had more of the game, but were initially stuck against the compact opponent. Mergim Berisha hit the net in the 17th minute, but was clearly offside after a pass from Rasmus Kristensen. The quick attack on various positions showed how it could be successful.

Berisha hits on the second try

At first Koita found another chance to finish, but was again decisively disturbed (21st). The next corner came to the first crossbar, where defender Andre Ramalho finished off with his foot but missed the shot (22nd). But Salzburg’s efforts must be rewarded. After a cross from Mohamed Camara, Enock Mwepu scored twice but was blocked and the ball bounced off Berisha, who threw the powder from close range. His fourth consecutive goal in CL was pending in a possible offside position, but was finally recognized by the video referee (28th).

The goal was good for the game to the extent that the then passive Moscow team now had to do a little more. But from the game Salzburg continued to be more dangerous and had more chances through Mwepu (31st) and Koita (35th). Lok was only dangerous twice in this half, and that in the same minute: after a corner kick, Eder had a header, which Ramalho and Dominik Szoboszlai cleared off the line. Then attacking partner Ze Luis prepared the ball well and closed from the edge of the area, but Salzburg goalkeeper Cican Stankovic cleared the shot in the continuation (39).

Berisha Double Pack

The Salzburg team, which acted very focused that night in Moscow, left no doubts before the break about who would leave the field as the winner. The visitors forced the home defense to make a decisive mistake by Slobodan Rajkovic while pressing. Koita placed the candle perfectly in Berisha’s barrel, which left goalkeeper Guilherme with a precise shot in the short corner with no chance from the left (41.). The only disappointment in the first half: Camara collected the third yellow card and is therefore suspended in the last game of the group stage against Atlético.

Lok Nikolic’s coach, of course, had to react during the break and did so with an offensive triple change, and Mirantschuk was among the new players. But Salzburg had the first chance in the second half: Mwepu served on the counterattack to Koita, who played Corluka, but missed the goal at sixteen (49th). Ten minutes passed before Lok took dangerous lead again, but Ze Luis’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was too central and ultimately no problem for Stankovic in the Salzburg area.

Adeyemi counteracts the connecting gate

The recently scolded Salzburg defense gained the upper hand and kept Lok under control. On offense, he didn’t have too many counter chances early on, only Mwepu missed (67th). But then the guests made it even more exciting in the penalty area after an unnecessary blow from Ramalho against Ze Luis. Mirantschuk took advantage of the dry penalty (79th), but Salzburg did not let it pass: Adeyemi scored his first goal in the premier category on the fast break (81st), Daka missed the goal on his comeback and did not hit the empty goal. (87.). For Salzburg it was the second away win in CL’s eleventh game, and a very important one.

Voices for the game:

Jesse March (Salzburg coach): “We had to be very aggressive when pressing and winning the ball and be careful with the standards. We did it well. It was definitely one of our best performances in our two years in the Champions League and a very important victory for us. “

For Karim Adeyemi: “He is a great talent. He is too young. We think he has a great future. “

Mergim berisha (Double goalscorer for Salzburg): “I think we got into the duels very well, we played our game and we were very brave. They all ran for each other. “

André Ramalho (Salzburg defense): “From the first minute you could tell that we were ready for this final. We were prepared in all situations, and we were very consistent, forward and backward. We did incredibly well, the victory was well deserved. “

Marko nikolic (Lok-Trainer): “We tried to put the team together again. We tried to continue playing after the leadership of Salzburg and we also changed. I do not help. The opponent was pretty good too. It was a tough game. In the second half we played with more risk, but that was not successful either ”.

UEFA Champions League, Group A, matchday five

Tuesday:

Lok Moscow – Salzburg 1: 3 (0: 2)

Moscow, Lokomotiv Stadium, 7,000 spectators, SR Wordyik / TUR

Sequence of objectives:
0: 1 Berisha (28.)
0: 2 Berisha (41st)
1: 2 Mirantschuk (79./Elfmeter)
1: 3 Adeyemi (81.)

Lok: Guilherme – Schiwogljadow (84./Rybtschinski), Corluka, Murilo, Rajkovic (46./Ignatjew) – Lisakowitsch (46./Muchin), Magkeew, Lyszow (46./Mirantschuk), Rybus – Ze Luis (90./Kamano) , Eder

Salzburg: Stankovic – Kristensen, Ramalho, Wöber, Ulmer – Mwepu, Camara (69./Sucic), Junuzovic, Szoboszlai (77./Daka) – Berisha (93./Onguene), Koita (69./Adeyemi)

Yellow cards: Muchin, Ignatjew, Murilo o Camara, Ramalho, Stankovic