Salzburg celebrates promotion and can already plan for a league phase

Salzburg and Brann drew 1-1 in the second leg. IMAGO/Fotostand

Red Bull Salzburg have booked their ticket to the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The Austrian runners-up drew 1-1 with Brann Bergen in the second-round second leg in Wals-Siezenheim on Wednesday, thus ensuring a comfortable victory after their 4-1 away victory. Their next challenge awaits them at home on August 5/6 and away against Belgian runners-up Club Bruges on August 12. A loss would secure them a spot in the Europa League group stage.

Salzburg slept off to a sluggish start in front of 11,949 spectators, falling behind after less than three minutes thanks to a Kornvig goal. Kjaergaard scored a free kick shortly afterward in the 6th minute, quickly putting the setback behind them. The hosts subsequently controlled the game in perfect pitch conditions. Salzburg played on the newly laid turf for the first time, and the substructure had also been completely renovated.

Salzburg coach Letsch relied on the players who had turned around a 1-0 halftime deficit in the first leg, resulting in four changes compared to the start of the match in Norway. Onisiwo and Vertessen started a new strike duo in place of Daghim and Baidoo. In midfield, Sota Kitano replaced Gloukh, who was close to a transfer to Ajax Amsterdam. The Israeli was no longer in the squad. "A transfer is about to be finalized, so we all decided that he won't be there. It was to be expected, and now the time has come," explained Letsch.

The second midfield change involved Kjaergaard, who replaced Diambou in the starting lineup. The Norwegians were unchanged from the first leg, but this time they took the lead even earlier. After losing possession, Kornvig ran long distances toward the Salzburg defense, was unchallenged, and fired into the corner from almost 20 meters. The immediate response came with a free kick, but Dyngeland didn't look good when Kjaergaard fired into the goal post.

Goal number two was in the air several times after that. Gloukh substitute Kitano had a strong first half, firing a cross over the bar (14'). Dyngeland parried a deflected Vertessen shot (16'), as well as a Kjaergaard free kick (29'), and another effort from the Dane (35'). Onisiwo's subsequent tap-in was rightly ruled out for offside. Kitano also shot well wide after a strong run (42').

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