Real Madrid can secure a much-needed European win against Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday as they look to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The reigning continental champions have won three and lost as many of their opening six games in the league stage, leaving them in an unfamiliar position. Carlo Ancelotti's usually ruthless superstars have let their standards slip this season, but victory over Salzburg would guarantee them a place in the play-off round.
Madrid may have lost the last final of the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona, but they have generally been in impressive form since the end of the year. The capital club have scored 19 in their last five games in all competitions and could put Salzburg to the sword at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the struggling Austrians conceding 18 in five defeats and boasting just one win in Champions League until now.
Here it is 90 minutes guide to a decisive clash for Madrid.
Real Madrid vs RB Salzburg H2H record
This is the first competitive match between Real Madrid and Salzburg.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Real Madrid |
RB Salzburg |
|---|---|
|
Real Madrid 4-1 Las Palmas – 19.01.25 |
RB Salzburg 3-0 Austria Klagenfurt – 14/12/24 |
|
Real Madrid 5-2 Celta Vigo (AET) – 16/01/25 |
RB Salzburg 0-3 PSG – 10/12/24 |
|
Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona – 12/01/25 |
RB Salzburg 2-2 Rapid Wien – 07/12/24 |
|
Real Madrid 3-0 Mallorca – 09/01/25 |
RB Salzburg 4-0 Hartberg – 04/12/24 |
|
Deportivo Minera 0-5 Real Madrid – 01/06/25 |
Hartberg 1-1 RB Salzburg – 30/11/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
TNT Sports 5, discovery+, discovery+ app |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, ViX, TUDN USA, UniMas |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Madrid already find themselves short on the right-back following Dani Carvajal's season-ending injury, but they will also be without substitute Lucas Vazquez on Wednesday night through suspension. Federico Valverde is likely to feature in place of the Spaniard as he has been used in defense this season.
Eder Militao is also out for the season with an ACL tear and Eduardo Camavinga is missing in the center of the park. Aurelien Tchouameni is doubtful to play against Salzburg after missing out Weekend win over Las Palmas due to a foot problem.
Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric are both available after missing Las Palmas' triumph through suspension, while David Alaba made his long-awaited return from injury with a 14-minute appearance at the weekend.
Real Madrid predicted formation against RB Salzburg (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Ceballos, Modric; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe.
Talk about a baptism of fire for new Salzburg manager Thomas Letsch, who is overseeing his first competitive game in charge of the club since returning to the Bernabeu. The German briefly took charge of the Red Bull team in 2015 as interim coach, but has since returned the sacking of the ex-Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders as coach.
Letsch will be without the influential Karim Konate for Salzburg's first game of the new year, while Maurits Kjaergaard is also sidelined through injury.
Bobby Clark, formerly of Liverpool, is a doubt for the game along with team-mates Amar Dedic, Alexander Schlager and Daouda Guindo.
RB Salzburg predicted formation against Real Madrid (4-4-2): Blaswich; Morgalla, Baidoo, Piatkowski, Terzic; Yeo, Capaldo, Bidstrup, Nene; Gloukh, Ratkov.
Salzburg have been terrible in the Champions League this season and could be a bit rusty on Wednesday as they haven't played a competitive game since mid-December. Letsch has had time to work with his new team, but will not expect any miracles in Madrid.
For all of Los Blancos' defensive shortcomings, they have been in confident mood in the final third and could get the result in midweek. Kylian Mbappe has been in superb goalscoring form and the return of Vinicius to the starting line-up will only increase their chances of beating Letsch's new side.