Red Bull Salzburg fell 2-0 to RSC Anderlecht in Thursday’s UEFA Europa League match at the RSC Anderlecht Stadium in Brussels. The result marks the second international loss of the season for the Austrian side, following a 4-0 defeat to AC Milan, as reported by salzburg24.
The visiting team failed to record a single shot in the first half—the first time the club has reached the midway point of an Europa League match without a registered attempt on goal in its history, according to sport.ORF.at. By contrast, Anderlecht generated seven scoring opportunities before the interval.
Ludwig Augustinsson scores opening free kick
Anderlecht’s breakthrough came in the 20th minute when Ludwig Augustinsson converted a free kick. Kurier noted that the shot curled past the wall, leaving Salzburg goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky unable to intervene. The goal followed a foul by Frans Krätzig just outside the penalty area, an action sport.ORF.at described as unnecessary.
Zawieschitzky was the visitors’ best player in the first half, preventing a larger deficit by making critical interventions against Anderlecht’s Cvetkovic in the 25th minute and Ambros in the 40th minute. Salzburg24 credited the 19-year-old goalkeeper with keeping the team in the match during a period where they struggled to find a rhythm.
Marten Winkler secures late victory
Following the break, Salzburg showed increased physicality and intent. Haris Tabakovic provided the team’s first real threat in the 71st minute with a header that went over the target, while a later attempt by Drexler was saved by Anderlecht goalkeeper Colin Coosemans, who stopped the ball with his face, as reported by sport.ORF.at.
Anderlecht thought they had added a second goal in the 74th minute through substitute Marten Winkler, but the effort was disallowed because the ball had fully crossed the touchline before the cross was delivered. Winkler eventually secured the 2-0 victory in the 90th minute, finishing a counter-attack after an assist from Antman. A final attempt by Tawfik Bentayeb in stoppage time was ruled offside.
Impact of injuries on squad rotation
Salzburg manager Danny Röhl fielded a lineup with five changes from the team’s previous 2-2 draw against Celje. Salzburg24 reported that three of these adjustments were forced by injuries, with Boma, Dominik Schmid, and Sota Kitano unavailable for the trip to Belgium. The depleted roster struggled to counter an aggressive and purposeful Anderlecht side. Anderlecht entered the match as Salzburg’s direct table neighbour, one point behind.
Referee Masiyev officiates match lineups
The match was officiated by referee Masiyev of Azerbaijan. The team lineups, as confirmed by sport.ORF.at, were as follows:
RSC Anderlecht: Coosemans – Maamar (86. K. Barry), Biancone, Petrot, Augustinsson – Onia Seke (59. Antman), Stroeykens (86. Kana), Llansana, Ambros – Cvetkovic (86. Bentayeb), Sikan (73. Winkler).
Red Bull Salzburg: Zawieschitzky – Morgalla, Drexler, Zabransky, Krätzig – A. Barry (77. Konate), Mazurek – E. Baidoo (59. Lindström), G. Diakite (66. S. Diabate), Vertessen (66. Redzic) – Tabakovic.
Salzburg returns to domestic action with a league match against Sturm Graz scheduled for three days after the defeat in Brussels.
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