Atletico Madrid Aims for Last 16 as Red Bull Salzburg Seeks Pride in Final Clash

SALZBURG, Austria — Atletico Madrid will look to secure a spot in the Champions League last 16 when they face Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena. The Spanish giants, currently fifth in the league phase, need a strong performance to solidify their knockout stage ambitions, while Salzburg, already eliminated, aim to end their campaign with pride.

Atletico Madrid, under the guidance of Diego Simeone, have won five of their seven Champions League matches this season. A dramatic 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last week, despite playing with 10 men for much of the game, showcased their resilience. However, a recent 1-1 draw against Villarreal in La Liga has left them four points behind leaders Real Madrid, adding pressure to their domestic and European campaigns.

Red Bull Salzburg, on the other hand, have struggled in the competition, securing only three points from seven matches. Their hopes of advancing were dashed early, with heavy defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. The Austrian side, now under new management after parting ways with their former coach, will look to end their Champions League journey on a positive note.

“We are only playing for pride, unfortunately, with our exit guaranteed,” said Salzburg midfielder Mads Bidstrup. “But we still are determined to use the chance to show what we can do at home to one of the top teams in Europe.”

Atletico Madrid will be without midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, and defender Nahuel Molina, who is suspended. However, the return of key players like Antoine Griezmann and Koke provides a boost for Simeone’s side. Salzburg, meanwhile, will miss injured players Dijon Kameri and Oumar Solet, while new signings are ineligible for the match.

Historically, Atletico have dominated their encounters with Austrian teams, winning all four of their previous European away matches in the country. Salzburg, however, will draw inspiration from their spirited performance against Real Madrid last week, where they showed glimpses of their potential despite a 5-1 defeat.

With nearly 24,000 tickets sold, the Red Bull Arena is set to provide a vibrant atmosphere for the final Champions League match of the season. Fans unable to attend can follow the action via live updates on Salzburg’s official channels or watch the game exclusively on Sky Sport Austria.

“Our expectations are similar to last week’s match,” said Salzburg coach Thomas Letsch. “Atletico have world-class players, just like Real Madrid. If we want to cope with them, we can only do that as a team and a unit on the pitch.”