As FC Twente prepares to host Red Bull Salzburg in the second leg of the Champions League’s third qualifying round, fans are eager to see which team will secure a spot in the playoffs.
Following a closely contested first leg, both sides are poised for a dramatic clash at De Grolsch Veste.
Team Form and Recent Performances
FC Twente’s Form
FC Twente, coming off a narrow 2-1 defeat in Salzburg, will look to capitalize on home advantage. Joseph Oosting’s team has been impressive domestically, finishing third in the Eredivisie last season, which secured their place in the Champions League qualifiers.
They kicked off their current league campaign with a 2-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen, showcasing resilience after their initial loss to Salzburg.
Key to their hopes is the return of captain Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who was rested during their last match.
Red Bull Salzburg’s Form
Red Bull Salzburg has been in strong form, continuing their dominance in European competition.
Despite losing out on their domestic title last season, the Austrian giants have started the new season with a series of impressive performances, including a 3-2 league win over Grazer AK and a 5-1 thrashing of Blau-Weiss Linz.
Under new management, Salzburg is determined to prove their worth and make a deep run in the Champions League.
Team News and Key Players
FC Twente
FC Twente will be without Czech midfielder Michal Sadilek due to injury, but they will welcome back defender Mees Hilgers from suspension.
Sem Steijn, last season’s top scorer for the Tukkers, is expected to start, providing vital support to van Wolfswinkel in attack.
Red Bull Salzburg
Salzburg faces their own injury challenges, with star striker Karim Konate sidelined until September.
However, they remain dangerous with Petar Ratkov leading the attack, supported by rising talent Oscar Gloukh.
The Austrian side has a knack for finding young talent to fill the gaps left by departing stars.
Prediction
Given Salzburg’s superior European experience…
Author : editors@footballcritic.com (Jake Skudder)
Publish date : 2024-08-13 08:18:16
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Author : soccernews
Publish date : 2024-08-13 08:25:39
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.