Salzburg in the final”: win against Bruges necessary for promotion!

Salzburg in the final”: win against Bruges necessary for promotion!

Today, August 12, 2025, Red Bull Salzburg faces a crucial challenge in the Champions League. The team will face Club Brugge in the second leg after losing the first leg 0-1. Coach Thomas Letsch describes the upcoming game as a “final” because everything is at stake for Salzburg. A win is needed to keep hopes of the next round alive.

Letsch emphasizes the need for targeted preparation and admits that the result in the first leg did not meet expectations. Central defender Jacob Rasmussen demands that his teammates score goals while avoiding conceding goals. “It is crucial that we work together as a team,” continued Rasmussen. The personnel concerns also include the loss of Sota Kitano, who cannot play due to a bruise and laceration in his right ankle. Alternatives in his position are shown with the 17-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic.

Confidence on the part of Bruges

Club Brugge was also able to gain self-confidence. Last weekend the team celebrated an impressive 5-0 win against GAK, which makes them optimistic for the second leg. Yorbe Vertessen from Club Brugge describes the first leg as even and sees a good chance of promotion. But the Salzburg team has proven in the past that they can come back strongly under pressure.

The Vienna team has represented Austria in the group stage of the Champions League for the last six years, but the streak could end with an exit from this qualifying round. If Salzburg fails, the Europa League route remains a possibility, where the team last played in the 2018/19 season.

Historical perspective

In the context of the Champions League, it is interesting to take a look at history. Salzburg reached the group stage of the competition for the first time in 1994 under coach Otto Baric. However, since Red Bull joined in 2005, the team has failed to qualify eight times. Baric, who was present at the first leg between Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb, critically analyzes the current circumstances. He sees the chances for Salzburg as 50:50 and criticizes that a competitive team should consist of at least two years of teamwork.

On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, an exciting duel awaits between Red Bull Salzburg and Club Bruges in the Jan Breydel Stadium. Preparations are in full swing as players are eager to show off their skills.

The fans and experts can only hope that Salzburg can turn things around and reach the next round of the Champions League. The tension and anticipation are palpable as the players focus on what's to come.