[ad_1]
Just before the Champions League game at Munich’s Allianz Arena, Red Bull Salzburg had the weakest performance of the season so far. Bayern were anything but convincing in their dress rehearsal, but now they are more dangerous than ever.
Wals-Siezenheim. With Red Bull’s best performance in the recent past, Salzburg conceded a 2: 6 against Bayern Munich. Even if he defeated her three weeks ago, if the considerable resistance was too high. The second leg of the Champions League goes up on Wednesday, but instead of regaining confidence, the Austrian champions have suffered a blow: at home they lost 3-1 to Sturm Graz. What if you did similar work in Munich? “Forget it,” replied coach Jesse Marsch, shaking his head. His goalkeeper Cican Stankovic said: “Good evening then.”
For March, the loss to Sturm was the clearest of his league tenure. “We were second in almost every situation.” His four changes compared to the 1-1 draw at Rapid before the international break were too many. Without Maximilian Wöber and Andreas Ulmer, the defense, already vulnerable this season, lacked more stability. Summer access Oumar Solet, 20, was too far from the opponent when Ivan Ljubic (48th) scored in Graz. Jakob Jantscher followed with a double (53rd, 59th) like in the best of old days (including Salzburg). Salzburg also owed a lot in the forward game, opportunities were rare, Mergim Berisha (86th) with the notable honor goal was the exception.
But it is also clear: the Salzburg game worked better in the last half hour. With Wöber, Ulmer and Sekou Koita, Marsch had replaced three regulars. “Hopefully we can learn and deliver something completely different against Bayern,” said the coach. It’s also quite possible that the highlights at the Allianz Arena were already on the players’ minds.
Light of hope
But Bayern did not warm up either. Only the 1: 1 draw of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Kingsley Coman prevented their first loss at home in a year against their favorite opponent, Werder Bremen.
Now a response against Salzburg must follow, otherwise the mood of the all-star team, who are used to success, threatens to deteriorate. After his 50th game as Bayern manager, manager Hansi Flick has 45 wins, two draws and just three losses, and Munich is still on track as leaders in the German Bundesliga and the Champions League, but tough games are on the rise. (Joe)
Eighth round of the Bundesliga
1. Salzburg
2. Fast
3. Calculate
4. Sturm
5. St. Pölten
6. WSG Tirol
7. WAC
8. Austria
9. Hartberg
10. Ried
11. Altach
12. Admire
Austria – St. Pölten 1: 1 (0: 1). Generali Arena. SR Harkam. Tore: Jukic (84.) bzw. Muhamedbegovic (39).
WSG Tirol – Admire 3: 0 (2: 0). Tivoli Stadium. Tore: Baden Frederiksen (2nd, 45th), Anselm (86th).
Salzburg – Sturm Graz 1: 3 (0: 0). Red Bull Arena, SR Spurny. Tore: Berisha (86.) bzw. Ljubic (48.), Jantscher (53., 59.).
Hartberg – Lask 1: 1 (0: 1). Profertil Arena, SR Kijas. Goals: Luckeneder (53rd) and Filipovic (22nd).
Altach – WAC 0: 2 (0: 0). Cashpoint Arena, SR Altmann. Tore: Peretz (73.), Vizinger (79.).
(“Die Presse”, print edition, November 23, 2020)
