Both of these sides skipped the previous rounds of qualifying due to their domestic finishing positions las season so it will be their first official matches of the season. They hope that there pre-season matches were enough to get them prepared for the first of two legs to seal a place in this season’s UEFA Champions League.
RB Salzburg are in the qualifying stages after finishing runners-up in the Austrian Bundesliga last year, losing out on the title on the last day of the season. That result is an anomaly for them as this is the first time they have not won the league since the 12/13 season. Known for their insane youth development, the young stars will come together again in this match against Dutch side FC Twente.
Sturm Graz will be the other Austrian team in the Champions league provided that Salzburg qualify because their domestic league sits in 15th for the UEFA league coefficient, meaning only one team automatically qualifies.
Salzburg have been participants in a UEFA European competition every single year for the last 20 years, more specifically the Champions League for the last five. New manger Pep Lijinders, former disciple under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool will be hoping to take them into the Champions League once more.
Across all competitions, Red Bull Salzburg have won all five of their last attempts, loading into this affair in terrific form. They might have lost key players in Luka Sucic and Strahinja Pavlović, but the team is still one with great potential all around the pitch.
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FC Twente would be the third team from the Eredivisie to be in the UEFA Champions League if they were to beat Salzburg over these two legs after they earned their spot in the qualification process by finishing third. The horrific season that Netherlands icons Ajax have is no doubt a massive factor in Twente ending the league in that position but everyone at the club will not care about that. What truly sealed it for them was a nervy final day of the season clash versus PEC Zwolle, whom they beat and went on to get that third place spot.
It would be the first time in 14 years that they have participated in the UEFA Champions League so to make it through would be a great honour for them. However, because of that, they might find it difficult to face an opponent that has got regular Champions League experience. The Tukkers did make it into the UEFA Europa Conference League two season ago but the difference in quality between the teams in each competition is immensely different.
They have lost former captain Robin Pröpper to Rangers and that experience at centreback could go against them in this game as they have conceded four goals in their last three matches.
Our prediction for this game is for RB Salzburg to Win. Twente’s lack of matches against European opposition is what will cost them in my opinion. Although they haven’t lost in seven games, Red Bull Salzburg haven’t lost in any of their pre-season games, in fact winning them all.
Red Bull’s talents like Karim Konate, Omar Solet and Nicolas Capaldo should be on top form in this one and boss in their areas of the pitch, not allowing FC Twente to get much of a look in.
Through our bookmakers, you can get odds as good as 3/5 via PariMatch and Ladbrokes. This would return you £16 based on a stake placement of £10.
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