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Real Madrid will aim to relieve some of the Champions League pressure when they host Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday night. The reigning champions, who at one point looked in danger of missing the knockout stages, can all but secure their place in the top 24 with a win.
After a crucial victory over Atalanta on matchday six, Real Madrid avoided a precarious position in the league phase. Carlo Ancelotti’s side now sits just two points inside the playoff spots, with pressure looming from teams playing on Tuesday.
While breaking into the top eight may be unrealistic at this stage—Real has just nine points from their first six matches—their focus is firmly on solidifying a strong position in the playoff zone. With Salzburg and Brest as their final two opponents, a spot in the knockouts appears within reach barring a significant misstep.
The mood around the Madrid camp has improved significantly following their 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup. Since that setback, Real responded with a 5-2 win over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey and climbed to the top of La Liga after a 4-1 triumph against Las Palmas. With Barcelona and Atletico Madrid dropping points, Los Blancos now enjoy a seven-point lead over their Catalan rivals, with Atletico as their closest challenger.
Before the Madrid derby in a few weeks, Real has a favorable schedule that includes games against Salzburg, Real Valladolid, Brest, and Espanyol. For now, though, their attention is firmly on the Champions League, where they’ll look to extend their streak of scoring in 32 consecutive home matches in the competition.
However, there is some cause for concern. Real lost their last Champions League home game, falling 3-1 to AC Milan. Another defeat would mark their first back-to-back home losses in the competition in over six years.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Real and Salzburg, but fans will hope for a repeat of their last encounter with an Austrian side in 1998, when they thrashed Sturm Graz 5-1.
Red Bull Salzburg enters the match with little to celebrate this season. On the verge of elimination from the Champions League and struggling domestically, they face the possibility of an unwanted record. If they lose by two or more goals without scoring, they will tie the record for the most such defeats in a single campaign—currently held by fellow Austrians Sturm Graz, who endured six such losses.
Their poor form has already led to managerial changes, with Pep Lijnders dismissed after a string of heavy defeats, including a 3-0 loss to PSG, 5-0 to Bayer Leverkusen, and 4-0 to Brest. New coach Thomas Letsch, who was last in charge of Bochum, takes the helm for his first game. However, with the Austrian Bundesliga on its winter break until February, Salzburg has had little opportunity to regain competitive sharpness.
The team’s last domestic outing was a 3-0 win against Klagenfurt on December 14. Since then, their mid-season friendlies have done little to inspire confidence, as they suffered a 6-0 defeat to Bayern Munich and a 3-2 loss to Midtjylland.
Salzburg’s hopes of progressing are slim. Even two wins against Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid would only leave them on nine points, which is unlikely to be enough to advance.
For Real Madrid, this match presents an opportunity to capitalize on Salzburg’s woes and strengthen their grip on a playoff spot. For Salzburg, it’s a chance to salvage some pride in a difficult campaign.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Real Madrid will be missing Lucas Vázquez for their clash against Red Bull Salzburg after the winger received his third Champions League booking of the season during their win over Atalanta. With Dani Carvajal also sidelined due to injury, Carlo Ancelotti will need to find a solution to cover the right flank.
Federico Valverde, who has previously filled in at right-back, could be an option, while Aurelien Tchouameni—who has shown versatility in defense over the past year—might also step in. However, Tchouameni’s availability is uncertain as he missed the weekend’s victory.
On a brighter note for Real, both Vinícius Júnior and Luka Modrić will return to the squad after serving suspensions during the weekend. Their inclusion in the starting lineup seems likely, especially given the doubts surrounding Eduardo Camavinga in midfield.
For Salzburg, injuries continue to mount. Key players Karim Konaté and Maurits Kjaergaard remain sidelined with long-term issues. The Austrian side is also sweating over the fitness of Alexander Schlager and Bobby Clark, who are recovering from illnesses, along with Amar Dedić (ankle) and Daouda Guindo (knee), all of whom missed their recent friendly.
Salzburg’s attack has also seen significant changes. Striker Fernando, who impressed with 12 goals in 26 appearances but struggled with injuries, was sold to Bragantino last week. To fill the void, the club brought in Karim Onisiwo on a free transfer from Mainz. The Austrian forward, returning to his homeland after nearly a decade abroad, marked his arrival with a goal in a friendly against Midtjylland. However, Onisiwo won’t be eligible to feature in this Champions League tie.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Modric, Ceballos, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vini Jr
Red Bull Salzburg possible starting lineup:
Blaswich; Morgalla, Baidoo, Piatkowski, Terzic; Yeo, Capaldo, Bidstrup, Nene; Gloukh, Ratkov
EXPERT PREDICTION
Real Madrid 4-0 RB Salzburg
Salzburg has endured several heavy defeats in this season’s Champions League, and facing Real Madrid presents their toughest challenge yet. Unfortunately for the Austrian side, another difficult night could be on the horizon.
Real Madrid enters this match as overwhelming favorites and should have little trouble securing a win, allowing them to solidify their position and create a comfortable gap between themselves and the teams vying for a spot in the top 24.
