Red Bull Salzburg kept their 100 per cent record at the top of Europa League Group G with a 1–0 victory over bottom club Levski Sofia at the Red Bull Arena yesterday.
With the key absence of striker Marc Janko, who failed a late fitness test on a muscle strain, the Red Bulls knew that their inspiration would need to come from somewhere else, but it was their Bulgarian visitors who bossed the early exchanges. In the 20th minute, Levski were unlucky not to take the lead when a close range shot from Hristo Yovov ricocheted off the near post with goalkeeper Eddie Gustafsson beaten, after Red Bulls defender Ibrahim Sekagya had failed to clear the danger.
Gradually, however, in foul weather conditions in Salzburg, the home side began to regain the advantage. Towards the end of the half, an Alexander Zickler scoring chance was just cut out by Levski Sofia goalkeeper Georgi Petkov, and then a cross from Dusan Svento was narrowly missed by Franz Schiemer as the Red Bulls pressed for a goal before half time.
It arrived with seconds of first-half stoppage time to play. A pass from Somen Tchoyi, so influential in the last victory at the Red Bull Arena over Spanish side Villareal, found Svento, whose crisp left-footed drive found the corner of Petkov’s net.
'There are three more matches, and we need more points' – Huub Stevens
Levski coach Ratko Dostanić resigned last week after a poor run of results, and the team from Bulgaria’s capital city clearly haven’t enjoyed being at the foot of the group, but in the second half in Austria, Levski renewed their attack on Salzburg’s goal, creating a number of chances as new coach Antoni Zdravkov looked on.
But the Red Bulls had their own opportunities, and in the 72nd minute, a fluke rebound off the head of Schiemer from a fluffed Viktor Genev clearance sailed just over the crossbar as confusion reigned in the Levski penalty area.
In the end, Svento’s single strike was enough to give Red Bull Salzburg a crucial win as they look towards the very real prospect of progressing beyond the group stages with matches to spare. Coach Huub Stevens, who felt his team could have been more careful on the ball last night, remains guarded about this possibility, however: “There are three more matches, and we need more points!” he stated.
In the other Group G match, Lazio defeated Villareal 2–1 in Rome to maintain second place in the table.
You can watch the match action from Salzburg on the Europa League website.
Europa League Group G table
Team Played W D L Pts
Salzburg 3 3 0 0 9
Lazio 3 2 0 1 6
Villarreal 3 1 0 2 3
Levski Sofia 3 0 0 3 0
Next fixtures (November 5)
PFC Levski Sofia v FC Red Bull Salzburg (Georgi Asparuhov)
CF Villareal v SS Lazio (El Madrigal)
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