Football can be a funny game, a true test of a team’s spirit, especially when a big European night is on the horizon. That’s the challenge facing Salzburg right now. They are getting ready to host FC Porto in their Europa League football debut this Thursday, but their recent form at home has fans a bit worried.
Just this past Saturday, Salzburg stumbled at home, losing 2-0 to Sturm Graz. Things went south early when midfielder Diabate was shown a straight red card after only 22 minutes. Playing with ten men made it tough, allowing the reigning champions, Sturm Graz, to cruise to a comfortable win. Horvat scored at the 41-minute mark, and Jatta sealed the deal with another goal at 51 minutes.
This defeat means Salzburg now has gone three league games in a row without a win. They have one draw and two losses, leaving them in fifth place in the league. They sit five points behind Rapid Vienna, who lead the table and still have their seventh-round game to play on Sunday. It is a tricky spot to be in, especially with European competition kicking off.
Meanwhile, their upcoming opponents couldn’t be in better shape. FC Porto is flying high, leading their domestic First League. They have a perfect record with six wins from six games, scoring 15 goals and letting in just one. Porto earned their spot in the Europa League as the third-place team from their First League last season. The match in Salzburg is set for Thursday at 8:00 PM.
Beyond this week’s clash, the “Dragons” – that’s what FC Porto is called – have a full schedule in the Europa League. They will face a number of teams in the league phase. These matches include playing Red Star Belgrade at home and Nottingham Forest away. They also travel to play Utrecht and host Nice. Further games see them welcoming Malmö to their home stadium, visiting Plzen, and hosting Rangers.