The chances of a last 16 spot in the Champions League hangs in the balance for Atletico Madrid on the final day of the Group A fixture. Red Bull Salzburg welcomes the Red Bull Arena visitors this Wednesday with a kickoff at 11 pm.
The La Liga leaders are currently two points better off than their opponents heading into the clash. It means that anything other than defeat will see them through with Bayern Munich.
Atletico took the game to Bayern Munich, ending a 1-1 home draw who have a 15 unbeaten streak in the competition. If Joao Felix’s early goal against Bayern stood the whole match, it could have been a dead rubber match this Wednesday. However, a late penalty converted by Thomas Muller proved the difference.
As it stands, Diego Simone’s side needs to pick points in Austria to progress to the last 16. The challenge for Salzburg is simple to either win the match or drop into the Europa League. It is assumed that Lokomotiv Moscow does not beat Bayern Munich in the other Group A fixture.
Jesse Marsch’s side lost 3-2 to Atletico in the reverse fixture and was humbled by Bayern Munich at home and away. It presents the first Champions League campaign for Salzburg that they win successive matches, while Atletico has never drawn four in a row, which could prove the case here.
RB Salzburg vs. Atletico Madrid Head to Head
Both sides have one match against each other, with Atletico taking the win. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
Flyeralarm Admira 1-0 RB Salzburg
Lokomotiv 1-3 Salzburg
SKN St. Polten 2-8 Salzburg
Bayern Munich 3-1 Salzburg
Salzburg 1-3 SK Sturm Graz
Away
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Real Vallavoid
Atletico 1-1 Bayern Munich
Valencia 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid 0-0 Lokomotiv Moscow
Atletico 1-0 Barcelona
RB Salzburg Team News
Patson Daka is back in the starting lineup but faces an uphill task in uprooting Mergim Berisha, who has netted four Champions League goals. Diakite, Bernede, and Diarra are ruled out of the contest.
Atletico Madrid Team News
Absentees ahead of the clash include Renan Lodi, Yannick Carasco, Diego Costa, Sime Vrsaljko, and Manu Sanchez. Luis Suarez is back in the starting lineup after a four-game absence at the weekend. Simeone will have to either go with a back five or four that will determine whether Vitolo starts or not.
Prediction and Odds
Atletico struggled in carrying their domestic form, especially with all the pressure in progressing from the group.
Draw
Both Teams to Score
Most Goals: 2H
