Salzburg’s “young wild ones” shone

Austria’s champions FC Salzburg made football history at kick-off in the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon – with the youngest starting eleven the Champions League has ever seen. In front of 65,000 eyewitnesses, Gerhard Struber’s team came to an average age of 21 years and 183 days.

However, the “Red Bulls” acted quite coldly and caught Benfica cold at the start of the group phase. Ultimately, the 2-0 (1-0) victory over the 2022/23 quarter-finalists could definitely be classified as a surprise and was also associated with the necessary luck.

The match was somehow reminiscent of Salzburg’s guest appearance in the “premier league” at FC Sevilla around two years ago. In the 1-1 draw on September 14, 2021, referee Kulbakov awarded no fewer than four penalties – three for the Mozartstadt team (two of which were awarded).

Today there were two absolutely correct ones for Salzburg in the first 15 minutes plus a red card for Benfica defender Antonio Silva (13th) for stealing a goal (handball on the line). The Turkish referee Meler had no other choice.

This time too, the “young wild ones” didn’t have a clean slate from the ominous point. Striker Karim Konaté (19) chased the first attempt into the Lisbon night sky (3rd) after 179 seconds, and the second penalty was then awarded. Roko Simic (20) confidently made it 1-0 (15th).

Ex-LASK captain Schlager made an excellent save

Benfica, the team of former Salzburg coach Roger Schmidt, hit the bar in the 12th minute – with Argentinian world champions Nicolas Otamendi and Angel Di Maria on the field – and were always extremely dangerous even when they were outnumbered. But the guests had a lot of enthusiasm, the announced force, the luck of the efficient and the outstanding ex-LASK captain Alexander Schlager in the box. He is currently in top form.

That was also necessary. At least until the decisive 2-0, which went to the Israeli team player Oscar Gloukh. The 19-year-old only had to push a perfect cross pass from Simic into the empty goal (51′). The reward: 2.8 million euros from the UEFA bonus pot.

“I’m very proud, this success means so much to me. 15 years ago my father won the Champions League,” said Simic: “It’s a very special feeling.”

Seven goals in Munich

In the parallel match in Group D, Real Sociedad and Inter drew 1-1 (1-0). For Milan, for whom Lautaro Martinez equalized late (87th), Marko Arnautovic had an unsuccessful debut in the starting line-up; the ÖFB team striker was substituted after 55 minutes.

Things went better for Konrad Laimer, who played the full distance at right-back in FC Bayern’s 4-3 (2-0) win against Manchester United. The offensive players Leroy Sané (28th), Serge Gnabry (32nd), Harry Kane (53rd/penalty) and Mathys Tel (92nd) were included in the Munich shooting list, while the former storm attacker scored for the English team Rasmus Höjlund (49th) and Casemiro (88th, 95th).

Real Madrid (with David Alaba) once again needed a last-minute goal from Jude Bellingham (94th) to bring Union Berlin to its knees 1-0 (0-0).