On Thursday, September 17, FC Red Bull Salzburg travel to Rome for the first leg of a football journey they hope will end in Hamburg for the Europa League final next May.
As the Red Bulls’ European odyssey begins, we take a closer look at the team and their prospects – and of their first opponents in Europa League Group G, Lazio.
FC RED BULL SALZBURG
How they qualified
Salzburg booked their place in the inaugural Europa League – the UEFA Cup format has been replaced with a Champions League-style group stage from this season onwards – by virtue of their victory over Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb back in August.
Euro history
This is the first fully-fledged European action for the club in the Red Bulls era, and the first since SV Austria Salzburg competed in the Champions League group stage back in 1994–5. Their most recent UEFA Cup involvement was in the 1993–4 final, where they were edged out by Internazionale 2–0 on aggregate.
How will they fare?
Italian stadia aren’t exactly the most welcoming for away fans, and Salzburg’s record at Italian clubs in the past isn’t great – but as this is the first time they have ever faced Lazio, they have a clean slate. Like many so-called ‘smaller’ clubs before them in Europe, Salzburg will revel in their ‘underdog’ status, and anything but a defeat will be an excellent first result ahead of the other tough group matches.
How are they doing domestically?
Salzburg also have a very good start to the Austrian Bundesliga season to buoy them in Rome. From their first seven games, they have 14pts from four wins, one of which was a thumping 4–0 defeat of KSV Superfund, two draws and just a single defeat. Last year’s closest title rivals Rapid Vienna currently trail back in sixth place after throwing away a 2–0 half-time lead in Wals to draw 2–2 with the Red Bulls in the last fixture on September 13.
Who to look out for?
Who else but Marc Janko? Consistently linked with clubs elsewhere in Europe – Celtic in Scotland were reportedly interested last season – the 26-year-old Viennese helped the Red Bulls regain their Bundesliga title last term with a stunning 39 goals. He now has 67 from just 81 starts for the club.
Forthcoming Europa League fixtures
October 1: Villareal (Red Bull Arena)
October 22: Levski Sofia (Red Bull Arena)
November 5: Levski Sofia (Georgi Asparuhov)
December 2: Lazio (Red Bull Arena)
December 17: Villareal (El Madrigal)
SS LAZIO
How they qualified
Despite only a 10th-place finish in Italy’s Serie A last term, Lazio’s Coppa Italia win, 6–5 on penalties over Sampdoria, secured their Europa League play-off place. Passage to the group stage proper came courtesy of a convincing 3–0 win over IF Elfsborg of Sweden in August.
Euro history
Lazio won the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998–9 and the Super Cup in ’99. Like Salzburg in 1994, they were beaten finalists in the UEFA Cup in 1997–8, losing 3–0 to the same club, Inter.
How will they fare?
Olympiakos of Greece are the only side to have beaten Lazio at their home in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in the last 11 European matches, 2–1 in the 2007–8 Champions League. But as six of those 11 matches were draws, victory is hardly guaranteed…
How are they doing domestically?
The club got off to a flyer with a 1–0 home win to Atalanta and a 2–1 away victory at Chievo, but slipped up at home on September 12 with a 1–2 home reverse to Juventus. They currently occupy sixth place in Serie A.
Who to look out for?
Mauro Zárate has moved on from his 2007 U20 World Cup win with Argentina, and moderately successful periods in Qatar and at English side Birmingham City, to become a regular fixture for Lazio. Though yet to get off the mark this term, his 13 goals in 35 appearances last year as a loanee made him popular with the Lazio faithful, not least his goal, then a successful penalty in the shootout, in the Coppa Italia final. Lazio repaid his loyalty to the cause in July by making his move from Qatari side Al-Sadd permanent, for a princely €20m.
Forthcoming Europa League fixtures
October 1: Levski Sofia (Stadio Olimpico)
October 22: Villareal (Stadio Olimpico)
November 5: Villareal (El Madrigal)
December 2: Red Bull Salzburg (Red Bull Arena)
December 17: Levski Sofia (Georgi Asparuhov)
SS Lazio v FC Red Bull Salzburg
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 21:05 (CET), September 17, 2009
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