Best Odds: 4/6
Bookmaker:
Desperate to try and find an immediate boost when they open their Champions League knockout stage run on Wednesday night, Bayern Munich will make the trip to Salzburg for their first-leg showdown.
Salzburg
Starting with the hosts, last seen mounting a second-half comeback away at Rapid Vienna, some in Salzburg s camp should be smelling the chance to cause a real European upset here. Eventually securing a late 2-1 win on the road last week, Head Coach Matthias Jaissle finds his side enjoying another domestic purple patch. Cruising their way to another Austrian Bundesliga crown this season, the Red Bulls hold a commanding 14-point buffer over the chasing pack. In fact, Wednesday s hosts have remarkably won each of their last eight straight matchups across all formats, a run that stems all the way back to November 27th. Securing second-spot in Group G last year and pinching that final knockout place from Spanish outfit Sevilla, Salzburg should also be boosted by their continued success on home soil. Including a 3-1 win against LASK last time out in Wals-Siezenheim, Jaissle s men are unbeaten at the Red Bull Arena so far this season.
Team News
Dealing with what is a real injury headache, Salzburg boss Matthias Jaissle is expected to be without the likes of Albert Vallci, Sekou Koita, Ousmane Diakite, Bryan Okoh, Benjamin Sesko and Bernardo in midweek.
Likewise, midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic is expected to undergo a late fitness test on Wednesday night.
Bayern Munich
As for the visitors, while Bayern Munich might have thought they had the perfect chance to pick up some momentum last weekend, the German giants are instead coming off the back of a nightmare display. Hit with a stunning 4-2 defeat away at Bochum, Head Coach Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear he is calling on an immediate response here. Storming their way out of Group E last year and not dropping a single point in doing so, Bayern should be glad to turn their attention back to Champions League duties on Wednesday night. Watching their three-match winning run come to an abrupt end last time out, the former RB Leipzig boss should at least be boosted by his side s recent success against their Austrian opponents. Including an action-packed 6-2 victory when they made the trip to the Red Bull Arena in November 2020, Nagelsmann s men have collected back-to-back wins against Salzburg, bagging nine goals.
Team News
Bayern have once again confirmed that the trio of Alphonso Davies, Manuel Neuer and midfielder Leon Goretzka will miss out on Wednesday s first-leg meeting.
However, while Jamal Musiala might be dealing with a minor issue, the former Chelsea starlet could play some part here.
Key Factors to Consider
