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Today Salzburg participates in one of the toughest tests in club football: the Austrian champions have to pass the Champions League at Atlético de Madrid. The Spaniards are already “a bit under pressure” after the 4-0 win over Bayern Munich, as Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch acknowledged. “It is true that we have to be smart and aggressive.”
Aggression is standard with the opponent. Hardly any opponent is more unpleasant. Last week, for example, Bayern player Thomas Mller complained about a yellow card: “We played Atlético de Madrid, the biggest bully in world football. And I get a yellow card for something like that.” Simeone has a tremendous amount of playful quality. The young star of Portugal, Joao Félix, is even threatened with the substitute bench. Marsch: “The special thing is that the coach convinced all these guys that defending so hard is the best for the team.”
Focus Luis Suárez fits in perfectly with Atlético’s style of play. The Uruguayan national team player has to do without his attack partner Diego Costa and assists Yannick Carrasco due to injuries; Saul Niguez is questionable. “We’re lucky, these three are also exceptional,” Marsch said.
Atlético have only lost one of the last 26 European Cup players at home, in September 2017 against Chelsea (1: 2). In eleven of the last 13 games, coach Diego Simeone’s team did not even have to concede a goal. Remaining undefeated in Madrid in their 24th competitive game would be a great success for Salzburg. Marsch: “We need all-around superior performance from everyone.”
Modric del Real scored against Barça.
Image: REUTERS
The Classic victory should inspire Real
In the parallel match in Group A, Bayern Mnchen travel with the confidence of twelve consecutive Champions League victories to the match against Lok Moscow. After the excitement over his “false positive” crown test, Serge Gnabry was there too. The Bavarians deliberately kept the trip to the Russian capital, which is listed as a risk zone, short: arriving late and returning home the night after the game.
After the 3-1 victory against FC Barcelona in La Liga in La Liga, Real Madrid also have to deliver in the Champions League: after the 2: 3 at the start against Shakhtar Donetsk, a victory must be achieved in Mnchengladbach. Valentino Lázaro could give his debts to the Germans after recovering from a calf injury.
