Red Bull Salzburg vs Real Madrid

About this fixture

This Group H decider at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia was a straight shoot-out: top spot and round-of-16 qualification were on the line. Both teams entered with 4 points from 2 matches, but Real Madrid held the slight advantage on goal difference.

Salzburg, undefeated in their last five Austrian Bundesliga matches, entered on the back of a solid domestic run but had struggled for form on the global stage. Injuries afflicted their squad, forcing them into a 4-2-2-2 formation with teenage goalkeeper Christian Zawieschitzky starting.

Real Madrid, coached by Xabi Alonso, deployed a new-look back three of Rüdiger, Huijsen, and Tchouaméni, supported by attack-minded wingbacks Fran García and Alexander-Arnold. The return to training of Kylian Mbappé was noted, though he was rested for this clash in favour of proven starters . Neither full attacking line had yet gelled, but Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Jr. were in sharp form in midfield .

With everything at stake, the expectation was a tight, tense encounter, their head-to-head in Europe skewed heavily in Madrid’s favour. Salzburg had won 2–1 at home earlier in the season, but away in Philadelphia, expectations favoured the Spaniards .