Having been tied for Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in Group A, both are aware of the importance of adjustment at the Red Bull Arena.
While Red Bull Salzburg is perceived by some as a springboard to form RB Leipzig or some other great European club, the Austrian team has shown in recent years that it can compete with some of the continent’s most productive groups.
Since reaching the Europa League semi-finals in 2017-18, Die Roten Bullen has maintained an upward trajectory and led Liverpool and Napoli to thrilling matches in the organizational stages of last season.
However, at a time when his star players remain connected to high-level moves, Jesse Marsch will point to a first appearance in the 16th of this competition.
There is no doubt that they remain the favourites on this goal, but scoring 17 goals in their first 4 league games this season suggests they have already reached form.
Patson Daka, a wanted player in many Premier League clubs, contributed five moves and three assists in those games.
While Salzburg had to defeat Maccabi Tel Aviv to qualify for the organizing stages, Lokomotiv earned their place thanks to the current position of the Russian elite.
Marko Nikolic’s team had a combined start in the campaign, recording six wins and three draws in 11 league games to take fourth place recently.
However, he has recently established a four-match winning streak, a streak that included a good fortune in the derby against rival CSKA Moscow.
However, goals remain a problem, as Fedor Smolov is the player who has scored more than two goals nationally this season.
Lokomotiv suffered defeats in the organizational stages of last season, completing last in an organization that included Juventus, Atlético and Bayer Leverkusen.
Form of the Red Bull Salzburg Champions League: WWRed Bull Salzburg Form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Lokomotiv Moscow Form (all competitions): DDWWWW
Marsch fits into this attack with Andre Ramalho absent from his side of Salzburg.
The Austrian team is aligned in a 4-4-2 formation with the requested Dominik Szoboszlai taking his position on the left flank.
Guilherme and Maciej Rybus are expected to be included in Lokomotiv XI after assembly coronavirus regulations.
Daniil Kulikov is on the entrance line to the center of the countryside at the expense of Stanislav Magkeev.
Imaginable start of Red Bull Salzburg: Stankovic; Vallci, Onguene, Wober, Ulmer; Okugawa, Camara, Mwepu, Szoboszlai; Daka, Koita
Possible from Lokomotiv Moscow: Guilherme; Zhivoglyadov, Corluka, Cerqueira, Rybus; Kulikov, Krychowiak; Zhemaletdinov, Miranchuk, Rybchinsky; Smolov
Given their national form, it turns out that these two groups are tied; However, while Lokomotiv will seek to keep things tight in the early stages of the match, we believe that Salzburg deserves to have enough quality in the last 3rd yet gets the most points.