RB Salzburg Vs Atl.Madrid

Atletico Madrid will aim to secure their place in the Champions League last 16 when they visit Austria for a crucial showdown against Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday. While the Spanish side has everything to play for, their Austrian counterparts enter the fixture with only pride at stake, having amassed just three points across their seven matches in the competition.

Salzburg entered the tournament hoping to reach the knockout stages for the first time since the 2021-22 season, a campaign where they advanced past the group phase by finishing second. However, their aspirations have fallen far short, as they have suffered six defeats in seven outings, positioning them at 34th place and a considerable seven points away from breaking into the top 24.

The Austrian side’s struggles began immediately, losing their first three matches by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0. They momentarily sparked hope with a 3-1 triumph over Feyenoord, only for their momentum to be swiftly extinguished by heavy losses to Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain. Their 3-0 home defeat to PSG was particularly consequential, marking the penultimate match under Pep Lijnders’ stewardship. The Salzburg board ultimately decided to part ways with the former Liverpool assistant, as the team languished in fifth place domestically, trailing Austrian Bundesliga leaders Sturm Graz by ten points.

Following Lijnders’ departure, Salzburg appointed Thomas Letsch, the former Bochum boss, to steady the ship. However, his tenure began in the worst possible fashion, as his side endured a humbling 5-1 loss to Real Madrid in Spain, conceding four times before the 60-minute mark. Despite their elimination, Salzburg will strive to conclude their European campaign on a positive note by securing their first home victory in this stage of the tournament. Yet, history does not favor them in this regard; they have failed to win any of their last three Champions League encounters against Spanish opposition since their 2021 victory over Sevilla.

Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, have already guaranteed themselves a place in the knockout rounds in some capacity. They have emerged victorious in five of their seven group-stage fixtures, with two defeats along the way, placing them in fifth position with a two-point advantage over teams outside the top eight.

Los Rojiblancos had a slow start, suffering two losses in their first three games. However, a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Angel Correa against PSG provided a crucial turning point, injecting fresh momentum into Diego Simeone’s squad. Atletico followed up that result with successive victories in the following matchdays, including a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Bayer Leverkusen in their most recent Champions League outing.

That match saw Atleti overcome adversity, as they trailed 1-0 at halftime and played with a numerical disadvantage after Pablo Barrios received a red card in the 25th minute. Nonetheless, Julian Alvarez equalized early in the second half, and after Bayer Leverkusen's Piero Hincapie was also sent off, Alvarez struck a dramatic last-minute goal to complete the turnaround, ensuring that Atletico entered the final matchday with a strong chance of qualification.

Despite their recent European success, Atletico Madrid approach this clash on the back of a frustrating domestic setback. They were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Villarreal, a result that allowed Real Madrid to widen the gap at the top of La Liga to four points, dealing a blow to Atletico’s title ambitions under Simeone.

Nevertheless, Atletico will be confident about bouncing back against Salzburg, particularly given their strong track record in Austria. They have won all four of their previous European away matches in the country, scoring nine goals and conceding only twice in that span. With their knockout-stage aspirations on the line, Los Colchoneros will be determined to maintain that dominant streak and confirm their place in the last 16 with a commanding performance.