Sevilla vs Salzburg | Match Info & Preview
Match preview
With the international hiatus wreaking havoc on the soccer calendar, despite the ridiculous events surrounding the bans imposed by FIFA on Brazilian players, which have since been overturned, Sevilla’s proposed La Liga battle against Barcelona scheduled for this weekend it was postponed to a later date.
Given that both Spanish powers have had players arriving late from their international duty to South America, the High Council gave the green light for the confrontation to be rescheduled, giving both sides sufficient time to prepare for their respective European battles.
Kicking off the campaign as they intend to continue, Sevilla quickly scored six points on the board in two La Liga games but were limited to a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Elche in week three, as star forward Youssef En-Nesyri canceled Enzo Roco’s opener.
The postponement of Barça’s visit should certainly be a blessing for Los Palanganas, especially considering that they will face Real Sociedad and Valencia after Tuesday’s game, and they welcome Salzburg to a field where it has won seven of its last eight competitive games.
Sevilla managed to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League last year before being sent to pack by Borussia Dortmund, and while a group that includes Lille, Salzburg, and Wolfsburg may not seem all that attractive at first glance, the Lopetegui’s team is far from guaranteed. a safe passage to the knockout rounds.
With his dominance of the Austrian soccer scene totally unmatched, 15-time national champion Red Bull Salzburg, unbelievably, enters Tuesday’s clash having won every game so far in the 2021-22 season.
Entering the Champions League in the playoff rounds, Matthias Jaissle’s team faced Brondby for the right to advance to the group stage, and a 4-2 aggregate win over the Danish team confirmed the appearance of Salzburg. in the proper tournament for the third year in a row.
A pair of 2-1 victories against Brondby were the latest in a long list of triumphs for Salzburg, who have also played seven and won seven in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring a whopping 19 goals, and managed a 3-point win. -1 over WSG Tirol at the weekend to maintain their perfect record.
However, Salzburg’s three previous appearances in the Champions League proper have ended in the group stage, although they were forced to put their wits to the test against Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid last season, and only they can boast of a victory of nine European matches on Spanish soil.
Sevilla and Salzburg have met twice before in the 2008-09 UEFA Cup, where the La Liga side managed a pair of 2-0 victories, but the Austrian champions have become a different beast ever since.
Team News
Sevilla have very few concerns to deal with from the Salzburg visit, with Ludwig Augustinsson, Papu Gómez, Marcos Acuña, and Gonzalo Montiel now all back from their international duties.
Lopetegui’s team participated in a friendly with Alavés on Thursday night, during which a strong team including Jesús Navas, Ivan Rakitic, and Diego Carlos appeared from the first whistle.
There shouldn’t be many surprises in the hosts’ lineup, with Suso and Lucas Ocampos supporting En-Nesyri as part of the attacking trident.
Meanwhile, the Salzburg duo Sekou Koita and Albert Vallci remain in the treatment room for the long haul, while a bruised heel prevented Zlatko Junuzovic from participating in Saturday’s win over Tirol.
Exciting teenage prospects Karim Adeyemi and Benjamin Sesko look forward to forming the center-forward pairing in this young team from Salzburg, where captain Andreas Ulmer, 35, will provide invaluable experience as a left-back.
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Bono; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Acuna; Jordan, Rakitic, Fernando; Suso, En-Nesyri, Ocampos
Red Bull Salzburg possible starting lineup:
Kohn; Kristensen, Solet, Wober, Ulmer; Seiwald, Camara, Capaldo; Sucic; Sesko, Adeyemi