Salzburg awarded the match point in Lille
Austria’s serial champions Red Bull Salzburg lost 1-0 in Lille on the penultimate day of the Champions League group stage.
Lille versus Salzburg.
FC Red Bull Salzburg via Getty Images
Austria’s champion Red Bull Salzburg also missed the second match point and has to play a decider in the fight for the announced promotion to the round of 16 of the Champions League. Salzburg lost 1-0 (0-1) to French champions OSC Lille on Tuesday. Jonathan David scored the only goal (31st). A draw at home against FC Sevilla on December 8 would still be enough for Salzburg to advance to the knockout stages.
CL Group Stage – Matchday 5
However, the Salzburger cannot afford a third CL defeat in a row in the ghost game against Sevilla, otherwise in the worst case scenario there is even a risk of last place in the extremely balanced group G – and thus the end of the European Cup without switching to the Europa League. Going into the last round, new leaders Lille are one point ahead of Salzburg, two ahead of Sevilla and three ahead of Wolfsburg. In the event of a tie between Mozartstadt and Lille, the goal difference would decide because Salzburg won the first leg 2-1 at the end of September.
Salzburg loses the thread after a good start
At the Stade Pierre Mauroy, Salzburg had to do without striker Noah Okafor. The Swiss was not fit after a muscle hardening in the thigh. In his place, Benjamin Sesko, alongside Karim Adeyemi, was given preference over ÖFB attacker Junior Adamu. Coach Matthias Jaissle described the 18-year-old Slovenian as a “complete striker”, but he didn’t get a clear chance to score.
Salzburg started actively and had slightly better scenes in the first quarter of an hour. In their usual pressing, however, the Bulls did not take place 100 percent. In addition, there was sometimes a lack of conviction in the attack third. After Sesko Krieg had been pushed aside, Luka Sucic acted too indecisively when there was a chance to shoot (9′). A first attempt by captain Andreas Ulmer on goal did not cause any problems for Lille keeper Ivo Grbic (11′).
The game became more and more disjointed as time went on, the mistakes piled up on both sides. Lille became a threat for the first time through Burak Yilmaz, the Turkish veteran hit the ball in a good position, but not correctly (27′). Four minutes later, Yilmaz passed Rasmus Kristensen on the left and, with a bit of luck, scuttled through the penalty area. The game device landed unluckily over Ulmer at David, who shot from five meters. Salzburg goalkeeper Philipp Köhn had no chance to defend himself.
For David it was the twelfth competitive goal this season. The 21-year-old Canadian has scored eight of Lille’s last ten goals. His second CL goal also confirmed that Salzburg, after 17 unsuccessful wins in the Red Bull era, has not kept a clean sheet in any Champions League group game. The “Bulls” were better in the game after a change of sides, but they still don’t play clear goalscoring.
Salzburg in the earnings crisis
Adeyemi tried hard but was unsuccessful, Kristensen hit the side netting from a difficult angle (59′). Jaissle responded with a double swap: Nicolas Capaldo and Adamu came in for Sucic and Sesko before the hour mark. Lille was lucky that Xeka fouled Adeyemi inches outside the penalty area (67′). On the other side, the strong Maximilian Wöber saved an attempt from the strong Jonathan Bamba in front of the line (74′).
Lille left a few counterattack opportunities in the finish, nothing changes in the result. Salzburg have only won one of their last five competitive games. Lille, on the other hand, is suddenly on top. Only in twelfth place in the league after five games without a win, the “Dogs” are reaching for the round of 16 in the Champions League after two wins in a row. A point win at the end in Wolfsburg would definitely be enough for them – like Salzburg against Sevilla.