Red Bull Salzburg vs AC Milan

Red Bull Salzburg and AC Milan will trade tackles at the Red Bull Arena in their exciting Champions League Group E opener.

Salzburg’s fifth Champions League group stage campaign commences at home, where they won all three of last season’s group phase matches en route to reaching the competition’s knock-outs for the first time in the club’s history. ‘Die Roten Bullen’ will now be aiming at becoming the first-ever Austrian side to claim a Champions League triumph against Serie A opponents at the 11th time of asking (D2, L8). With Matthias Jaissle’s team going unbeaten in their opening-day fixture across all four previous Champions League participations (W1, D3), spirits will be high in the home camp. Adding to this sentiment, since a disappointing 2-0 away defeat to fellow domestic rivals Sturm Graz in late July, Salzburg have racked up an impressive six-game winning streak in all competitions, with five of those victories yielding multi-goal margins.

On the other hand, seven-time Champions League winners AC Milan will be looking to make it through the competition’s group stages for the first time since 2013/14, having finished bottom of their section last season. Interestingly, Milan’s 2021/22 Champions League fiasco marked their first failed attempt to reach the knock-out phase since 1999/2000. ‘I Rossoneri’ bid to bring the glory days back to San Siro, and their record of ten unbeaten matches from 11 against Austrian clubs in major European competitions (W8, D2) reinforces their optimism. Worryingly for head coach Stefano Pioli, his men have only won one of their last nine Champions League outings (D2, L6). Their solitary victory in that span came away to Atletico Madrid on last season’s Matchday 5, meaning they could win back-to-back Champions League fixtures on the road for the first time since October 2009.