Real Madrid have faced challenges in their quest to defend their Champions League title during the group stage matches. However, a convincing victory at home against a youthful Salzburg side will secure their spot in the next round.
Team news
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is dealing with defensive setbacks as Dani Carvajal is injured, substitute right-back Lucas Vazquez is suspended, and young Lorenzo Aguado is not eligible to play.
A potential solution could be Raul Asencio or Fede Valverde stepping in as makeshift full-backs.
Additionally, Eder Militao, Eduardo Camavinga, and possibly Aurelien Tchouameni are still unavailable for selection.
Salzburg will be without midfielder Maurits Kjaergaard and winger Karim Konate due to injuries. Their new striker, Karim Oniwiso, is also ineligible to play after joining from Mainz recently.
The stats
The 15-time champions, Real Madrid, have not kept a clean sheet in their last seven home Champions League matches.
The last time Real Madrid failed to score at home in the Champions League was back in December 2018.
In their last 12 games across all competitions, Real Madrid have seen at least three goals scored in each match.
Salzburg has only managed one win in their last eight away matches in the Austrian Bundesliga and the Champions League combined.
In this season's Champions League group stage, Salzburg has suffered five defeats in six games, conceding a total of 18 goals without keeping a clean sheet.
Prediction
Real Madrid must secure a convincing victory at home against Red Bull Salzburg to guarantee their progress to the next stage of the tournament.
Obtaining only nine points from six matches is below expectations, but two strong wins against Salzburg and Brest in their final games should see them seeded in the knockout phase play-offs.
Salzburg, playing for pride at the Bernabeu, faces a tough challenge under new head coach Thomas Letsch, who recently took over from Pep Lijnders.
Letsch's debut friendly against Bayern Munich resulted in a heavy 6-0 defeat, and with over a month since their last competitive fixture, it will be a difficult task for Salzburg.
However, similar to Las Palmas, who managed to score against Real Madrid in a 4-1 defeat over the weekend, Salzburg could also find the back of the net against a Real Madrid defense that is currently facing challenges.
With nothing to lose at the Bernabeu, Salzburg might have an opportunity to score, given Ancelotti's defensive concerns.