Salzburg is leaving the Champions League: On the way to heavyweight

Bundesliga

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On the one hand, the hosts still awe-struck after the final whistle. For example, with the substitutes of RB Salzburg. Like excited teenagers, they were pleased that one of them was allowed to take a selfie on the lawn with Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk. On the other side there were the Salzburg followers. The team once again took off all four grandstands and received applause from all sides, the fans sang: "Salzburg is the hottest club in the world."

The Austrians had lost the "final" stylized Champions League duel against Liverpool 0: 2, now waiting for the Europa League. But at the same time they had brought the audience the first major European Cup evening of the club's history. "It was like a heavyweight fight," said RB coach Jesse Marsch proudly after the game. In his view, it was probably an evening that made Salzburg a European football heavyweight. And it seems a little bit as if the two shower clubs from Leipzig and Salzburg are going through this development in unison.

Anyway, Jürgen Klopp was glad after the game that his team had heard the warnings. "We were ready," said the coach of Liverpool, which was also sorely needed. In the first half, it was an open exchange, already in the first minutes of the Salzburg had with unconditional, courageous offensive play the audience picked up. It took until the 57th minute, Liverpool shot the lead - the ex-Salzburg and ex-Leipzig Naby Keita met - and then it took only 100 seconds before Mohamed Salah finally took advantage of one of his great opportunities and so decided the game.

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Whether he thought that could have done otherwise, Klopp was asked. "Not believed," he replied, "I knew it, even before the game." It was "superfluous," stressed the 52-year-old with a serious expression, how well Salzburg had been adjusted to his team. Later, Virgil van Dijk also said that after the first leg match in Liverpool, they knew what was to come - at the beginning of October, Salzburg had lost just under 3: 4. Now his conclusion was: "Salzburg will surprise many in the Europa League."

The fact that the Salzburg would even have the chance to shoot the current champion from the competition on the sixth round of the preliminary round was already surprising. On the one hand, since 2006, the crew had been acting downright stupid every year and never reached the main round. When it finally worked, a hard group was detonated. And that, after numerous top performers and yes also coach Marco Rose (Borussia Mönchengladbach) had left the RB conglomerate.

Salzburg gets to know its borders

But Salzburg have twice shown against Liverpool, that you always find good solutions in the offensive game. That you can keep up with the highest speed, even if it looks a bit more improvised in the other penalty area than in Liverpool. The game seemed incredibly intense because both teams went fast and there were only a few interruptions. The entire game recorded just twelve fouls. Also, because Salzburg wanted to play. "We could not have played better up to the goal," enthused coach Marsch. The game probably set new standards for his team.

Of course, Salzburg was also shown limits. Above all Erling Haaland, who had met in all five preliminary round matches. On Monday, the lauded 19-year-old attacker with 28 competing goals since the summer had said he wanted to enjoy the game and stand with a smile on the pitch. During the game, he was annoyed several times because he lacked in the final accuracy. And because he also realized that "a running duel against Virgil van Dijk is something else". Such a comment from Klopp. On the way to a real heavyweight Salzburg has to fix but the biggest weaknesses in the defense. The 21 Liverpool scorers are a proof that the back four is not yet at the highest European level.

In this respect, the forthcoming tasks in the Europa League are just right, in order to continue working on the international format - especially as RB Salzburg is often under-challenged in the Austrian league. "I am sad that we have retired, but I am not sad that we play Europa League," said coach Marsch, and looked at the same time not sad. For the draw on Monday, it is already clear: with possible opponents such as Inter Milan or Ajax Amsterdam in the course of the competition further major European Cup evenings in Salzburg are possible.

RB Salzburg - Liverpool 0: 2 (0: 0)
0: 1 Keita (57.)
0: 2 Salah (58.)
Salzburg: Stankovic - Kristensen, Onguéné, Wöber, Ulmer - Szoboszlai (90th Ashimeru), Junuzovic (68th Daka), Mwepu - Minamino - Hwang, Håland (75th Okugawa)
Liverpool: Alisson - Alexander Arnold, Lovren (53rd Gomez), van Dijk, Robertson - Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita (87th) - Salah, Roberto Firmino (75th Milner), Mané referee: Makkelie (Netherlands)
Yellow cards: - / Mané