Prediction: Salzburg vs Twente

Verdict: Salzburg win

Best Odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Looking to get their Champions League qualifying adventure underway with a first-leg advantage on Tuesday night, Salzburg will welcome Twente to the Red Bull Arena.

Salzburg

Starting with the hosts, left stunned last season as they relinquished their Bundesliga crown, Salzburg are desperate to make an early statement of intent here. Now under the guidance of former Liverpool coach Pepijn Lijnders’ guidance, the Austrian giants have embarked on a real summer purple patch. Getting the 2023/24 campaign underway with an action-packed 3-2 victory against Grazer, the Red Bulls have also gained a real reputation for their clinical performances in the final third. Extending on their OFB Cup campaign on July 16th as they stormed their way to a 6-0 romp away at lower-league outfit Dornbirn, Salzburg have won all of their previous four appearances by an aggregate score of 14-2. It should also be highlighted, continuing on from last season, Lijnders’ men have notched 34 goals in their last seven outings.

Team News

Both still dealing with respective injury issues, the duo of Alexander Schlager and former Palmeiras star Fernando will not feature on Tuesday night. Arriving from Borussia Dortmund this summer, 19-year-old Hendry Blank will partner Samson Baidoo at the heart of Salzburg’s defence.

Opening his Bundesliga account against Grazer last weekend and notching 20 top-flight strikes last season, attacking talisman Karim Konate will spearhead Lijnders’ attack in midweek.

Twente

As for the visitors, snatching a bronze medal finish among Holland’s elite last season for the first time in a decade, Twente gained a string of plaudits. Signing off the 2023/24 campaign with a 2-1 victory against Zwolle, Joseph Oosting’s side collected nine points from their final four Eredivisie appearances. However, struggling to find much stability during their summer preparations, the Tukkers also failed to muster any real stability away from De Grolsch Veste. Facing what should be a real challenge when they get their Champions League qualifying adventure underway on Tuesday night, Twente registered just a sole victory from any of their final five domestic showdowns on the road. Pencilled in as a real underdog contender here, Oosting’s men have failed to record a clean sheet on their travels since the start of February.

Team News

Both completing respective summer moves to Twente this summer, the duo of Sayfallah Ltaief and former Rangers striker Sam Lammers will make their competitive debuts on Tuesday night. Getting their Champions League qualifying adventure underway in midweek, the Dutch outfit have reported a clean bill of health here.

Notching 16 Eredivisie strikes last season and claiming Twente’s Golden Boot, one-time Norwich star Ricky van Wolfswinkel will play a leading role in the final third.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Salzburg last welcomed Twente to town back in 1998, Tuesday’s hosts collected a 3-1 victory in the Intertoto Cup.
• Continuing on from their summer preparations, Salzburg have won all of their previous four showdowns at the Red Bull Arena by an aggregate score of 15-1.
• The Red Bulls have suffered just a single competitive defeat in front of their own supporters throughout 2024.
• Twente collected just a single victory from any of their final five Eredivisie appearances on the road last season.
• The Dutch outfit have failed to muster a single clean sheet on their travels since the start of February.

Conclusion

Enjoying what was a real summer purple patch, Salzburg will certainly be relishing a return to competitive action on Tuesday night. Gaining a fearsome reputation for their success on home soil and winning all of their previous four showdowns at the Red Bull Arena by an aggregate score of 15-1, Lijnders’ men will be confident of picking up a first-leg advantage here. With Twente mustering just a single victory from any of their final five Eredivisie appearances away from De Groisch Veste, we are backing a home win in midweek.

Verdict: Salzburg win

Best Odds: 2/3

Bookmaker: Olympusbet