Red Bull Salzburg and Red Star Belgrade to finish level

Red Bull Salzburg host Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night with a lucrative spot in the Champions League group stage on the line. The first leg finished nil-nil in Belgrade and Salzburg will need to prevent their opponents of scoring a sneaky away goal to qualify for the group stage.

A goal for either side will completely change the complexion of the tie. Neither team will need to hurry and attack when the game kicks off. Both can play their normal style of football, although nerves could be frayed when the match starts.

The Austrians made it to the Europa League semifinals last season before succumbing to Marseille. Now, Marco Rose wants to take them into the Champions league to cause the same chaos they did in the Europa League.

There is no margin for error on Wednesday as Salzburg could get dumped out of the Champions League thanks to an away goal. Salzburg entered the Champions League in the third qualifying round and blistered Shkendija, 4-0. Not scoring against Red Star was a letdown and Rose’s team could pay for it. Salzburg are undefeated in all competitions so far this season and will have plenty of confidence against their Serbian opponents.

Red Star have been playing football since July. The club kicked off their Champions league campaign in the first qualifying round. Red Star have outscored their opponents 10-2 during their seven matches. Manager Vladen Milojevic’s team nearly missed out on the playoff round altogether. Red Star needed a goal in extra-time against Spartak Trnava to reach the playoffs.

The narrow win proved just how weak Red Star’s squad is. On paper, Red Star is inferior to Salzburg’s team, but football isn’t played on paper.

Salzburg do have more experience in Europe than Red Star. The club’s fantastic cup run last term in the Europa League is proof Salzburg have the talent and ability to win the tie. Rose has led Salzburg to eight wins from nine games this term. The only match the team didn’t win was the nil-nil draw in the first leg against Red Star. Wednesday’s game will be cagey and as it progresses, the teams could become more cautious of giving up a goal. As long as the score remains nil-nil, neither side will throw its players forward.

The second leg should end in the same nil-nil scoreline as the first match. Extra-time and penalties will be need to sort out which team goes through to the Champions league group stage.