Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid: Prediction & Match Preview
Red Bull Salzburg are set to play hosts to Atletico Madrid at the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday in their final UEFA Champions League group stage game.
The La Liga leaders are two points better off than their opponents heading into Wednesday’s clash, meaning that anything other than defeat will see them through with Bayern Munich.
On the face of it, a 1-1 home draw with reigning European champions Bayern, boasting a 15-game winning run in the competition, should be considered a good result for Atletico.
Atletico Madrid’s Champions League last-16 hopes hang in the balance heading into their final Group A fixture away to Red Bull Salzburg.
Red Bull Salzburg come into this game following a 1-0 loss to Flyeralarm Admira on Saturday in the Austrian Bundesliga. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, beat Real Valladolid 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga.
Reason for Red Bull Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid predictions:
- RB Salzburg’s group games have averaged a whopping 5.0 goals per 90 minutes this season.
- Only Ferencvaros (16) have conceded more goals in the group stage than RB Salzburg (15) this term.
- Atletico Madrid beat RB Salzburg 3-2 when the teams faced off in the Spanish capital in October.
- The host has won only one of their last five clashes with other Spanish clubs.
- The visitor is on a six-game winning streak when facing other Austrian clubs.
- Three of Los Indios’s last five clashes with other Austrian clubs have seen BTTS.
Atletico Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg have played against each other once before, in the reverse fixture of the upcoming game.
The game was played at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano nearly two months ago, with Atletico Madrid beating Red Bull Salzburg 3-2.
Only a win for RB Salzburg will suffice if the Austrian champions are to leapfrog Atletico into 2nd spot on Group A’s final match day.
Salzburg have the attacking talent and forward-thinking tactical setup to create chances against just about anyone, however, only Hungarian minnows Ferencvaros (16) have conceded more goals in the group stage than Jesse Marsch’s men (15), and we think the Austrian’s inability to keep the door shut in defensive areas will be their undoing again.
A win for Red Bull Salzburg would see them leapfrog Atletico Madrid and finish second in the group, ensuring qualification. A loss, on the other hand, could potentially mean that they finish fourth and miss out on any continental football for the rest of the season. Atletico Madrid sit second, two points ahead of third-placed Red Bull Salzburg.
Even a draw will put Atletico Madrid through to the playoffs this season. For Salzburg, nothing other than a win will help them stay in the tournament. Their future in the campaign also depends on the other fixture in the group and its result.
Atletico Madrid will be the favorites to go through, despite the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Patson Daka starting for Red Bull Salzburg.
Our Prediction: FC Salzburg Over 5.5 (Team Corners) @ 2
