MATCH OVERVIEW
Salzburg will welcome Brest at Red Bull Arena in the all-important second-round Champions League affair on October 1, 2024. Salzburg is coming from a 2-0 win against Austria Vienna and will be looking to pluck back to the winning ways after the away defeat to Sparta Praha. Brest is coming from a 3-0 loss to Auxerre and will be up for a tough encounter against the in-form side. This will be the first time the two sides face each other in the competition.
MATCH DETAIL
- Date: 01/10/2024
- Time: 10:15 IST
- Venue: Red Bull Arena, Salzburg
PITCH REPORT
The pitch at Red Bull Arena is known for being fast as well as suitable for attacking football. Indeed, both teams play very quickly, with Salzburg particularly adept at taking the game forward. In addition, the pitch is rather even. Therefore, we could assume that it would be Brest who struggles more with the pace of the game simply by being the visiting team. If they continuously leave space in the middle, Salzburg will likely have a clear advantage.
TEAM A ANALYSIS – SALZBURG
Salzburg goes into this game with a considerable upswing of form. Their pressing game and free-flowing attacking play will be a key part of their performance, especially at home where they will be eager to grab a lead to take with them to Brest.
Key Players:
- Strahinja Pavlović (Defender)
- Luka Sučić (Midfielder)
- Karim Konaté (Forward)
Probable Playing XI:
- Philipp Köhn (GK)
- Pavlović
- Dedić
- Ulmer
- Gourna-Douath
- Sučić
- Kjaergaard (if fit)
- Konaté
- Simic
- Okafor
- Sesko
TEAM B ANALYSIS – BREST
Brest has been very inconsistent and this loss further highlighted their defensive vulnerabilities. Going forward, their only hope will be a very tight defensive approach.
Key Players:
- Romain Del Castillo (Midfielder)
- Jérémy Le Douaron (Forward)
Probable Playing XI:
- Marco Bizot (GK)
- Duverne
- Lala
- Hérelle
- Lees-Melou (if fit)
- Belkebla
- Camara
- Honorat
- Le Douaron
- Magnetti
- Cardona
DREAM11 PICKS
- Captain: Luka Sučić
- Vice-captain: Jérémy Le Douaron
- Picks: Karim Konaté, Pavlović, Bizot, Honorat
PUBLIC OPINION
According to both fans and analysts, Salzburg is the clear favourite to win in this game. Salzburg has demonstrated great results lately, especially playing at home, whereas Brest has encountered many difficulties and cannot ensure good performance on the road. The public anticipates that Salzburg is going to dominate the possession, trying to exploit the visitors’ weaknesses in defence.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Salzburg
- Strengths: High-intensity pressing game, home advantage, attacking versatility. Strong squad depth.
- Weaknesses: Injuries of Kjaergaard and Terzic, a target-man is required, and defense is vulnerable to counter-attacks.
- Opportunities: Brest’s defence is weak; Salzburg can attack spaces between their defensive lines, score early, and control the game. A victory is vital here to consolidate their place in the group.
- Threats: Brest may park the bus and focus on hitting Salzburg on the break. An early goal for Brest will unsettle the home team.
Brest
- Strengths: Defensive fortification of the line of defence, and counterattacks with the introduction of Le Douaron and Gota Honorat look very profitable.
- Weaknesses: Uncertainty and instability in the team, frequent injuries, and poor away performance.
- Opportunities: High vulnerability of Salzburg in defence, which can allow Brest to realize certain moments in a counterattack.
- Threats: Rapid devastating attacks of Salzburg. It is not excluded that in case of an early goal in his net, Brest will not be able to recover.
PREDICTION
Salzburg is the obvious favourite for several reasons: they are playing at home; they are in great form, and have recently beaten Austria Vienna; their non-stop attack will overpower Brest, especially given the latter’s trouble in defence and injuries; as for Brest, its poor away record and overall inconsistent performance should be a major disadvantage. It is assumed that Brest will attempt to hold off Salzburg as long as possible, but they are unlikely to succeed, considering their opponent’s quality up front. The final score is expected to be 3-1 for Salzburg, who will run most of the game and create most of the numerous chances.
