Champions League | League Stage

Oct 1, 2024 at 5.45pm UK

Red Bull Arena

Salzburg vs Brest

Match preview

Despite controlling the game on their opponents' turf, Salzburg ended up on the losing side in their league opener, going down 3-0 to Sparta Prague. The Czech side was clinical in front of goal, netting all three goals before the hour mark.

Despite having 71% of the ball – their highest in a Champions League match – Die Roten Bullen only managed one shot on target.

Salzburg are in their sixth successive UEFA club competition, and have become a fixture in the competition over recent years. However, their current run of six games without a win – losing five of them – is the longest they have endured to date.

It's worth noting that they've been beaten in each of their last four home matches in the Champions League group stage, including all three last term. Previously, they'd gone six in a row without defeat at Red Bull Arena.

After losing in Prague and drawing with WSG Tirol in the Bundesliga, the team managed by ex-Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders bounced back with a win last weekend. Oscar Gloukh scored in each half, leading the team to victory against Austria Wien.

Lijnders will be hoping that this success can kickstart a more positive streak for a team that's currently sitting in an unusually modest fourth place in their domestic standings, having seen their 10-title run come to an end at the hands of Sturm Graz last season.

While Salzburg had a night to forget on the opening matchday, Brest were busy beating none other than Sturm Graz on their long-awaited European debut.

In a first for the club in its 121-year history, Les Pirates entered continental competition. The fairytale had a fitting end when long-serving midfielder Hugo Magnetti scored the opener at their temporary home of Stade Roudourou in Guingamp.

Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Abdallah Sima got the all-important goal shortly after half-time, so Brest will now try to become just the second French team ever to win their first two matches in either the European Cup or Champions League – and the first in some 45 years.

What's more, the last Ligue 1 team to win their first away fixture at the elite level was Auxerre back in 1996. Since then, six sides from France have tried and failed.

However, Eric Roy's squad – who finished third last season, with a club-record 61 points – will be travelling to Austria on the back of some disappointing results in the league.

With two league wins and four losses on the board, following a 3-0 defeat to Auxerre on Friday evening, Brest have now conceded 14 goals and kept only two clean sheets across all competitions.

Recent Performance

Red Bull Salzburg Champions League form:WDWDL

Red Bull Salzburg form (all competitions):DLLDWW

Brest Champions League form:W

Brest form (all competitions):LWLWWL

Injuries and suspensions

Salzburg

6 Samson Baidoo

23 Joane Gadou

3 Aleksa Terzic

29 Daouda Guindo

16 Takumu Kawamura

14 Maurits Kjaergaard

20 Edmund Baidoo

11 Fernando

81 Gaoussou Diakité

Brest

2 Bradley Locko

12 Luck Zogbé

20 Pierre Lees-Melou

Possible starting lineups

Salzburg(4-3-3)

1Blaswich(GK)

70Dedic(DR)

4Blank(DC)

91Piatkowski(DC)

36Mellberg(DL)

7Capaldo(MC)

8Bajcetic(MC)

10Clark(MC)

45Nene(FWR)

49Yeo(FW)

30Gloukh(FWL)

Brest(4-3-3)

40Bizot(GK)

7Lala(DR)

5Chardonnet(DC)

44Coulibaly(DC)

23Amavi(DL)

8Magnetti(MC)

45Camara(MC)

6Fernandes(MC)

21Faivre(FWR)

19Ajorque(FW)

17Sima(FWL)