Forty-eight teams, just one perfect record – only Red Bull Salzburg have won all five matches in the Europa League this season, and now they look to make it six at Villarreal CF’s Madrigal stadium tonight.
The Red Bulls have comfortably qualified as Group G winners, at the expense of this week’s hosts (in their first fixture at the Red Bull Arena), and by doing the double over both SS Lazio and PFC Levski Sofia home and away.
As top dogs, Salzburg have the luxury of seeding, meaning that they should avoid the more dangerous opponents (at least on paper) in the knockout stages to come, with the draw for the last 32 tomorrow, following the completion of the group stage. They also get the bragging rights as the only Austrian team to qualify – Rapid Vienna, Austria Vienna and Sturm Graz all finished rock-bottom of their respective groups.
But, as we have often said before another handsome win in Europe this season, the Red Bulls will be wary of their opponents. Villarreal are unbeaten at home in Europe in three and a half years, and though they made relatively hard work of beating Group G whipping boys Levski Sofia 1–0, they brushed Lazio aside 4–1. Their domestic form is also on the up – after residing in La Liga’s basement at the beginning of the campaign, they are now in the top 10.
But the Red Bulls themselves are sitting pretty at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga, with Eddie Gustafsson not having conceded a goal in six and a half hours of league football. Taking a blemish-free Europa League record into the New Year would surely make the season so far Red Bull Salzburg’s best ever Christmas gift to the fans ahead of the first knockout Europa match on February 18.
UEFA Europa League Group G
CF Villarreal v Red Bull Salzburg
El Madrigal, Villareal
Kick-off: 21:05 (CET), December 17, 2009
P W D L GD Pts
Red Bull Salzburg 5 5 0 0 +6 15
Villarreal 5 3 0 2 +3 9
Lazio 5 2 0 3 0 6
Levski Sofia 5 0 0 5 -9 0
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