Salzburg are narrowly defeated by Chelsea
Red Bull Salzburg had to admit defeat for the first time in this year’s Champions League season and narrowly lost 2-1 in their second duel with Chelsea.
Salzburg have to accept a defeat against Chelsea.
FC Red Bull Salzburg via Getty Images
Red Bull Salzburg suffered their first defeat in the current Champions League. Chelsea deservedly won 2-1 (1-0) on Tuesday evening in front of 29,520 spectators in Wals-Siezenheim and thus booked the round of 16 ticket before the last matchday. Mateo Kovacic (23′) scored for the “Blues” in the first half of the game, after Salzburg equalized through Junior Adamu (49′), Kai Havertz (64′) was there again for the Premier League club.
CL Group Stage – Matchday 5
For Austria’s serial champions, it was the first home defeat on the international stage since February 18, 2021, when Villarreal (2-0) won on Salzburg soil. However, Matthias Jaissle’s team is still able to climb up to Group E. Italy’s champion Milan awaits away in San Siro in Milan next Wednesday.
Salzburg had long reported a sold-out house. The expectation of a surprise was present after the 1-1 draw in the first leg. As expected, Nicolas Capaldo was absent from the home team, and unlike Luka Sucic, Oumar Solet was not fit as expected. Andreas Ulmer was on the bench, which made Salzburg extremely young again. 22 years and 10 days – the “Bulls” began with the youngest starting eleven in their Champions League history. Only Arsenal in December 2009 (record at 21 years, 215 days) and twice Ajax Amsterdam, according to statistics in the competition history, initially relied on younger formations from the start.
Chelsea coach Graham Potter surprised with an attacking team. The offensive forces Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic acted in front of a three-man defense on the flanks, stability in the center should bring European champion Jorginho and four-time Champions League winner Kovacic (ex-Real Madrid).
The party got off to a great start even before the kick-off with a tribute to Dietrich Mateschitz. The deceased Red Bull founder was remembered with a “minute of gratitude” with applause, but the family wished that no mourning should take place. “Thank you Didi” let the fans know via a banner. Only the kick-off let the clapping subside.
Chelsea struck first
Salzburg attacked Chelsea’s build-up briskly, aiming to win the ball early in the opponent’s half of the game. Goalkeeper Philipp Köhn, who was able to clear a failed header from Bernardo in front of Havertz, prevented a false start. Less than two minutes were played. Jaissle continued to direct on the touchline, Sucic shot over the goal after fifteen minutes from a promising position. Chelsea came on after that. The winner of 2021 had more and more of the game against more passive hosts and struck first, as in the first leg.
Maximilian Wöber was there with his toe against Havertz, but provided the involuntary template for Kovacic. The midfielder, who was born in Linz, took a shot from the penalty area with the inside of his foot into the Kreuzeck. Chelsea would have quickly managed the double strike, Köhne dived successfully after a corner kick from a slightly deflected header by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (26′). The Swiss had to intervene in extremis several times. When Aubameyang appeared completely free in front of him (32′) after Salzburg’s pressing failed to take hold. Havertz missed the visitors’ next chance with a header (36′), before Köhn prevented Aubameyang from scoring again with a reflex in the last action of the first half.
Salzburg had big plans
Salzburg could be satisfied with the narrow gap. “If they keep playing like this, it’s a matter of time before they concede the second goal,” said ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick, who was in the stadium, during the break to Sky. Both teams then started unchanged. Salzburg obviously had something planned.
There was initial excitement after Kovacic caught the ball in the penalty area. The Swiss referee Sandro Schärer saw no intentional offense. The equalizer came two minutes later. Veteran Thiago Silva attacked too impetuously and tore a hole in the Blues’ defence, Adamu was there to counterattack after Wöber’s cross. Chelsea didn’t fail to react. Köhn’s private duel with Aubameyang continued in favor of the Swiss, with the subsequent corner kick Adamu scraping a Jorginho header off the line (53′).
Chelsea were again masters in a strange house, but Salzburg was better in the game. Jaissle brought on Benjamin Sesko for Sucic after the hour, Adamu moved back into attacking midfield. However, the individual class of the opponent should make the difference. Pulisic found Havertz, who sunk the ball from almost 20 meters into the goal via the lower edge of the bar. The people of Salzburg were no longer able to answer. Sesko’s low shot was parried by Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga (67′) and Silva cleared the goalkeeper well in front of the line (69′). Salzburg’s final offensive didn’t bring the hoped-for result either.