By Neel Shelat
Salzburg’s stunning season up to now
After Sturm Graz ended their decade-long Bundesliga-winning streak final season, RB Salzburg have been anticipated to return again sturdy this time period. As a substitute of competing for one more title, although, they’re at the moment on track for his or her worst league end in twenty years.
Forward of the season, they employed former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Ljinders to guide the squad. He received lower than half of the aggressive matches he took cost of, so he was sacked again in December. The group has been away on a winter break since then, so new head coach Thomas Letsch will make his debut in command of the membership on the Santiago Bernabéu.
Actual Madrid’s shaky league section marketing campaign
Actual Madrid’s UEFA Champions League title defence has been something however convincing up to now. Even every of their three victories was removed from easy as they wanted a late winner to beat Stuttgart, needed to stage a dramatic turnaround within the second half in opposition to Borussia Dortmund and nearly bought the higher of Atalanta in a five-goal thriller. However, their three losses to Lille, Milan and particularly Liverpool weren’t undeserved.
With two video games to go, the defending champions will virtually definitely fail to complete within the prime eight to earn a direct spot within the Spherical of 16. In the mean time, although, their largest concern must be sealing a knockout spot as they’re barely within the prime 24.
In fact, accidents have been a giant issue behind Actual Madrid’s struggles (although there are different points too). The scenario will not be significantly better for this match as defensive midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga have joined Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal on the therapy desk, albeit for a shorter time period. Lucas Vázquez’s suspension for accumulating three yellow playing cards means Federico Valverde will likely be compelled to hitch Raúl Asencio on the correct facet of the defence, so Dani Ceballos and Luka Modrić will seemingly begin behind Jude Bellingham in midfield.
Los Blancos seeking to keep away from creating undesirable historical past
Actual Madrid have an unmatched popularity for being serial winners and record-breakers. Their 15 European Cups and Champions Leagues are over twice greater than every other group’s tally, and so they even have a report 9 FIFA Membership World Cups of their sprawling trophy cupboard.
Nevertheless, they’re pretty near creating an undesirable piece of historical past this time period. Chelsea’s group stage elimination in 2012/13 was the one time that the UEFA Champions League holders haven’t progressed to the knockouts, however that may properly change if Los Blancos fail to win their final two video games.
Prediction
The Santiago Bernabéu is hardly the very best place to check out a brand new head coach’s techniques, so Actual Madrid ought to get the higher of Salzburg fairly comfortably.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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