Football
Red Bull Salzburg vs Paris Saint-Germain: Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Red Bull Salzburg will host Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League at the Red Bull Arena Salzburg on 10 December. Given PSG’s mixed run of form, this is an interesting game for football betting enthusiasts. PSG are currently 25th in the Champions League’s league phase and Salzburg are 32nd. Both teams are thus still in the running for the knockout stages, even though they are not on course to qualify as per the present standings. As we look ahead to the game, it is worth examining the latest odds and our betting tips and prediction.
Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain//Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Probability: PSG Heavy Favourites
Home: 31/5 (7.20) - 14%
Draw: 22/5 (5.40) - 19%
Away: 19/50 (1.38) - 73%
*Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.
Head-to-Head Record
The teams have not faced off since the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League group stages. Both teams won one match during their two battles that season.
Previous meetings (European competitions):
01/12/11: Salzburg 2-0 PSG
15/09/11: PSG 3-1 Salzburg
Red Bull Salzburg beat Paris Saint-Germain to second place in their UEFA Europa League group in 2011/12.
Red Bull Salzburg Current Form: LLLWL
Red Bull Salzburg got their UEFA Champions League season off to a dismal start with a 3-0 defeat to Sparta Praha.
They subsequently lost 4-0 to Brest and then 2-0 to Dinamo Zagreb, further compounding their woes.
However, a shock 3-1 win over 10-man Feyenoord kept them in the running for the knockout stages. Salzburg’s last Champions League game at the time of writing was a 5-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen.
Salzburg are having a difficult season in the Austrian Bundesliga and at the time of writing, they sit seventh in the table.
Oscar Gloukh of FC Red Bull Salzburg//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
- Oscar Gloukh: Playing in behind the striker, Gloukh can have a huge influence for Red Bull Salzburg. He is their top goalscorer in the Austrian Bundesliga with five goals to his name.
- Amar Dedić: The 22-year-old Bosnian right-back is one of the most talented players in this squad and could well find himself in a more prominent league in the near future. This is a chance for him to impress against PSG’s big guns.
- Mads Bidstrup: Salzburg have produced a long line of talented midfield players. Aged 23, Danish midfield anchor Bidstrup could be one to watch.
Red Bull Salzburg Team News
Karim Konaté, who scored a heroic brace in Salzburg’s 3-1 win over Feyenoord, is out with a cruciate ligament injury.
Left-back Aleksa Terzic is another key player on their lengthy injury list. Fernando, Maurits Kjaergaard, Leandro Morgalla and Janis Blaswich have all been out of action lately for the embattled Austrian side.
Paris Saint-Germain: Current Form - WLDLL
PSG have been too strong this season for their domestic rivals in France and top the Ligue 1 table with 33 points, seven clear of Marseille.
However, their performances in the UEFA Champions League have once again left plenty to be desired for a club with such significant resources.
PSG began their European campaign this season with a 1-0 win over Girona. However, a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal and 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven failed to inspire. Luis Enrique’s men then slumped further with a 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid and a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
Key Players to Watch
- Achraf Hakimi: Still one of the best right-backs in the world despite his team’s recent struggles, Hakimi is a strong presence at both ends. He scored in PSG’s 1-1 draw at home to Nantes on 30 November.
- Vitinha: One of the bright sparks in a struggling PSG side this season, Vitinha has shored up their midfield. It is little wonder why, as per Fabrizio Romano, they are set to renew the Portuguese international’s contract until 2029.
- Bradley Barcola: With 10 Ligue 1 goals to his name this season, 22-year-old Bradley Barcola is a player who has shown he has tremendous potential.
Paris Saint-Germain Team News
Ousmane Dembélé misses this game through suspension. The France winger’s disciplinary problems have caused huge headaches for Luis Enrique this season. PSG have Senny Mayulu injured but their problems in that regard are not as worrying as Red Bull Salzburg’s
Predicted lineups
Red Bull Salzburg (4-2-3-1): Schlager; Dedić, Piatkowski, Gadou, Guindo; Capaldo, Bidstrup; Yeo, Gloukh, Dorgeles; Ratkov
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Lee, Ramos, Barcola
Suggested Bets
For punters eager to bet on this UEFA Champions League game, below are our suggested bets.
Paris Saint-Germain -1 Handicap: Red Bull Salzburg have suffered some heavy defeats in the UEFA Champions League and have an injury crisis to navigate. (19/20 with Betway) (27/50 with 1Win)
Bradley Barcola Anytime Goalscorer: Barcola has been banging in the goals for the French side and an injury-affected Salzburg defence is likely to struggle against his quality. (7/2 forecast odds)
Over 3.5 Goals: Salzburg have seen several high-scoring UEFA Champions League games this season. PSG have a reputation for being more offensive than defensive in the way they play, so there is value here. (99/100 with Betway and 1Win)
Value Bets
Paris Saint-Germain -2 Handicap: PSG could win this game by a huge scoreline based on RB Salzburg’s current issues and recent UEFA Champions League form. There is a huge gap in quality between the sides. (21/10 with Betway) (38/25 with 1Win)
Bradley Barcola First Goalscorer: Barcola hitting the net first is a bet which could yield high rewards if it lands. (6/1 forecast odds)
Correct Score: PSG Win 4-1: This is likely to be a fast-paced game with PSG winning by a high margin. (17/1 with Betway) (15/1 with 1Win)
Prediction: PSG Win & Over 2.5 Goals
Brest comfortably beat RB Salzburg 4-0. Despite their challenges against the best teams in the UEFA Champions League this season, PSG have generally been too strong for their domestic opponents in a tough Ligue 1. They should have little trouble with an injury-ridden RB Salzburg. PSG have the attacking players to beat them by a significant margin in a high-scoring game.
Leonard Solms is a freelance journalist who has been covering local and international sport from South Africa since 2015. Best known for his work for ESPN, he has also written for Al Jazeera, The Continent, New Frame, Planet Rugby and GiveMeSport among several other publications.