RB Salzburg vs Chelsea

Red Bull Arena forms the backdrop for a top-table Champions League Group E six-pointer between RB Salzburg and Chelsea.

Despite drawing three of their four Champions League matches (W1), including a 1-1 stalemate at Dinamo Zagreb last time out, Salzburg head into proceedings in second, only one point adrift of table-topping Chelsea. But with third-placed AC Milan lagging just two points behind, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ cannot afford to lose here if they’re to take the qualification battle to the final matchday. Unfortunately for the perennial Austrian champions, signs are ominous as they’ve gone winless in all seven previous meetings with Premier League clubs in major European competitions (D2, L5). Matthias Jaissle’s team could turn their fortunes around in midweek, considering they’ve not lost any of their nine competitive home outings in 2022/23 (W5, D4).

In the meantime, Chelsea drew 1-1 with Salzburg in the reverse fixture but have since won back-to-back Champions League encounters against Milan via 2+ goals ‘to nil.’ Another similar victory would see the ‘Blues’ register three consecutive multiple-margin triumphs in the competition for the first time since 2013. Coming into this showdown, Graham Potter’s men have drawn back-to-back Premier League matches, including a frustrating 1-1 home stalemate against Manchester United at the weekend. That doesn’t bode well for their bid to defy their 100% winless ratio away to Austrian adversaries in European action (D1, L1). They have netted under 1.5 goals on both of their previous visits to Austria, which has been the case in their last two competitive games. Yet before a goalless draw at Brentford on their most recent road trip, Chelsea had won three straight competitive away contests.