RB Salzburg will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host an imperious Porto in the UEFA Europa League (UEL).
Match News and Current Form
After picking up ten points from their opening four Bundesliga games, Salzburg’s form has taken a real hit, as they enter their UEL league phase opener on the back of a three-game winless run (D1, L2). Absent from Europe’s second-tier competition since 2018/19, the Austrian giants will hope to roll back the years by building on a 15-match unbeaten run in group-stage matches in this competition (W11, D4). That sharply contrasts their debut in last season’s revamped league phase in the Champions League, where Salzburg lost seven of their eight matches (W1).
Porto have been nearly immaculate so far this season, winning all six of their domestic outings while conceding just once in the process, making this their strongest start to a top-flight campaign in the club’s storied history. That perfect start will come under threat, as they travel to Austria looking to put their European blues to bed after failing to win 15 of their last 17 trips in the UEL (D5, L10). Those results include two winless games on the road (D1, L1) as pre-match favourites last season on their way to elimination in the knockout play-offs.
Head-to-Head History
This is the first meeting between Salzburg and Porto. Salzburg’s most recent game against a Portuguese opponent saw them lose 3-1 to Benfica in the Champions League, while Porto remain unbeaten against Austrian sides (W5, D1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Salzburg are winless in seven European home games (D2, L5), losing to nil in four games therein.
The side scoring first won without reply in three of Salzburg’s last four UEL games.
Porto conceded at least twice in 15 of their last 18 UEL away games (W3, D5, L10).
Eight of Porto’s last ten UEL games at any venue produced goals in both halves.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Maurits Kjærgaard has directly contributed to three goals across four European qualifiers for Salzburg this season (G2, A1), meaning six of his last seven club strikes have now come in continental competitions. Samu Aghehowa has scored four goals across five league appearances this campaign, and the 21-year-old Porto prodigy has pedigree in this competition too, hitting six goals in just nine appearances.
Salzburg are without the likes of John Mellberg and Karim Konaté, while Porto must continue in the absence of Nehuén Pérez and Luuk de Jong.
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Betting Analysis
Given the perfect start made by the visitors, we’re backing Porto to continue their blistering trail with an away win.
Author: Matthew Billon