TipResumen

SALZBURG

After reaching the Europa League Semi Final last season and only missing out on a spot in the Final in controversial fashion, Salzburg are now desperate to join the elite of European Football in the Champions League Group Stage. In recent years Salzburg have been the team to beat in Austria more often than not, but they have not been able to turn that into a way through the Champions League Qualifiers. This looks to be the best chance for Salzburg to reach the Champions League Group Stage having drawn the First Leg of this Play Off tie in Serbia although the goalless draw could be dangerous if their opponents were to score here. There will be confidence in the Salzburg camp as they are unbeaten in 12 home European games and they have won 9 of those games including the last 3 in a row. Salzburg have opened the 2018/19 season unbeaten in all 8 games played in all competitions and they have won 7 of those with the only exception coming in the Play Off Qualifier First Leg last week. The side have won 16 of their last 17 games in all competitions and Salzburg have won 11 in a row here which makes them a strong favourite to move into the Champions League Group Stage draw.



CRVENA ZVEZDA

It is almost thirty years since Crvena Zvezda won the European Cup under their better known name of Red Star Belgrade. The club have fallen a long way since those days when they had one of the best teams in Europe and the majority of strong young Serbian talent do move into the stronger European Leagues much more quickly than they would have done before. In more recent years Crvena Zvezda look to be moving back into a position of being considered the best team in Serbia as they play in the Champions League Qualifiers for the second time in three years. However they have never made the Champions League Group Stage and this is a big challenge for Crvena Zvezda to change things around when you think they have drawn the home Leg. Crvena Zvezda are unbeaten in all 12 games they have played in all competitions this season which includes coming through 3 Qualifying Rounds in the Champions League. They have not won their last 2 home games in the Champions League yet still got past Suduva and Spartak Trnava with strong away performances, and Crvena Zvezda are unbeaten in 12 away games in all competitions since losing 1-0 to CSKA Moscow in the Europa League last season.



HEAD TO HEAD

Salzburg hosted Crvena Zvezda in the mid 1970's in the UEFA Cup and it was Salzburg who won 2-1 at home although they were beaten on aggregate on away goals.



PREDICTION

While the result in the First Leg should rightly make Salzburg the favourites to see off Crvena Zvezda for a place in the Champions League Group Stage, the tie still remains finely balanced as far as I am concerned. It is almost impossible to ignore how desperate Salzburg have been to join the Champions League Group Stage in recent years only to slip in the Qualifiers time after time. They are going to be feeling the pressure in this Second Leg especially with the sense of expectation around them and that has to be factored into this match. Add in Crvena Zvezda's path through the Champions League Qualifiers which have seen their successes away from home against Suduva and Spartak Trnava in helping them through to the Group Stage and you can't expect this to be an easy night for Salzburg. Where I do think they could have the edge is from the very strong run in the Europa League which ended in the Semi Final against Marseille. Salzburg showed they can be very tough to beat here and their style of football actually saw them overrun opponents and Salzburg were very close to reaching the Final and I expect that has given them confidence in these Qualifiers. It will be tense at times with the players likely to be feeling the pressure, but I think Salzburg will have a little too much for Crvena Zvezda in this one. I could see a situation where Salzburg begin to sit back and need to hit their opponents on the counter attack late in the day to move clear of their visitors as they hold onto a narrow lead. With that in mind I will back Salzburg to cover the Asian Handicap in this one as they beat a former European Cup winner and finally join the elite of European Football in the Champions League Group Stage.