RB Salzburg has faced significant challenges in this season’s Champions League, losing four out of five matches. They endured heavy defeats against Sparta Prague (3-0), Stade Brestois (4-0), and Dinamo Zagreb (2-0).
Despite a brief resurgence with a 1-3 victory over Feyenoord, their momentum was short-lived as they suffered a 5-0 thrashing by Bayer Leverkusen in their latest match.
Consequently, Salzburg is positioned 32nd out of 36 teams in the competition. Their domestic league performance has been lackluster as well, trailing behind leaders Sturm Graz. They aim to narrow the gap with upcoming matches against Hartberg before this crucial Champions League fixture.
PSG’s Champions League campaign has also been disappointing, with only 4 points from five matches. They are not in contention for a top-24 spot, which is necessary for qualifying for the knockout stage. After narrowly defeating Girona 1-0, they had underwhelming results with draws against Arsenal (2-0) and PSV Eindhoven (1-1), and a loss to Atlético (1-0).
A 1-0 defeat to Bayern has put PSG in a precarious position, where anything less than a win in this match could severely impact their chances of advancing. However, PSG is performing well in Ligue 1, sitting at the top of the table, with upcoming league matches against FC Nantes and AJ Auxerre before this pivotal game.
Salzburg will be missing several key players, including young talents Gadou, E. Baidoo, and Diakité, who were not registered for the competition. Injuries have sidelined Brazilian striker Fernando, right-back Morgalla, defender Okoh, midfielders Kjaergaard, Kawamura, and goalkeeper Blaswich. Additionally, their top scorer Konaté, injured against Bayer Leverkusen, will also be absent.
This leaves young Israeli striker Gloukh as the standout player for Salzburg. On the other hand, PSG will be without Lucas Hernandez due to a long-term injury and the young Mayulu. Kimpembe and Gonçalo Ramos, recently recovered from injuries, are expected to feature, while Ousmane Dembélé is suspended following a red card against Bayern.
PSG will depend on Ligue 1’s top scorer Bradley Barcola (10 goals) to step up, as his Champions League performances have been underwhelming. Ramos could play a pivotal role at center forward, with uncertainty surrounding PSG’s goalkeeper choice between Donnaruma and Safonov.
Prediction
Considering that Salzburg’s recent home games in the Champions League have often been low-scoring, and PSG’s away matches have typically produced fewer than 2.5 goals, this match is likely to follow a similar pattern.
Prediction: Salzburg 0 – 1 PSG
