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One year after the “magic chance” in the final group match against Liverpool, the door to the Champions League knockout round will open again for the soccer series champions Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday (9 pm / Sky live). However, a victory is needed against Atlético de Madrid, the best team in Spain. Now is the time for coach Jesse Marsch: “We have learned a lot in the last eleven games, it is time to beat a top opponent.”
Against Liverpool, the dream ended almost exactly a year ago with a 2-0 draw. Atlético would have quite a draw on Wednesday, and in case of defeat, the leaders of the Spanish First Division would be eliminated in the round of 16. “We’ve been talking about this moment since June. With our team and mindset, we always have a chance at home,” Marsch said. That the “final” against the two-time Champions League finalists (2014, 2016) is firmly anchored in the minds of their players was evident over the weekend. From an eleven rotation of Salzburg with the 0: 1 in Admira was unknown weaknesses. But that should be the news yesterday. “We wanted to have a fresh group (for Atlético, note),” emphasized Marsch. And now you have it too. Everybody is physically there, even forward Patson Daka is “one hundred percent”.
Apart from the long-term injured Antoine Bernede, who has returned to training, only the suspended central midfielder Mohamed Camara is missing. Marsch didn’t worry: “We are very flexible.” With all the excitement (“One of the biggest games in club history”) it’s important to be fully focused on tactical guidelines, Marsch said. It requires “self-confidence, aggressiveness, our power and passion”, but also the head. “We have to be aggressive, but also smart, patient. We also have to understand that it is not necessary to win the game in the first 20 or 30 minutes.”
Respect for the enemy was, of course, audible. “Atlético are an incredible team at the moment,” Marsch said. “They conceded some goals and played well. It will be very even from the beginning. Both teams don’t give much.” Mergim Berisha, who with four goals – his fifth own goal by Atlético Felipe defender Felipe – is the sixth best scorer in the premier class, bristles with self-confidence: “We have shown very often that we can keep up with him to a rival like that. Small things decided. “
Everything is possible, even in a negative way
Atlético is known for its defensive strength. In the league (2 goals conceded in 10 games) the Colchoneros are difficult to beat, but in the premier category they have already conceded 5 goals in 5 games, 2 of them against Salzburg. The “headache” gave his team the Champions League, said late coach Diego Simeone. “We have already scored two goals in the first leg, which means that we also show what we can achieve, most recently in Moscow (3-1, note), at Bayern (1: 3) and also in Madrid,” he said . Walk firmly. In the last game, Simeone-Elf were 1: 2 behind on October 27 and only secured a 3: 2 success in the 85th minute. Wednesday could end in total disappointment, even if that’s highly unlikely. It is then that Lok Moscow wins the side game in Munich and Salzburg loses or draws. That would mean the relapse behind Lok to fourth place and thus close the door to go to the Europa League. “Our gaze on the table is directed upwards,” emphasized defender Maximilian Wöber. “What do we have to do to hit them? Where can we hurt them? We put everything else aside, we have no control over that.”(What)
