Team Performance

System of Play & Lineup

• Salzburg organised in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Great energy and attitude. Always looking to be proactive. They are a very young but determined squad. Didn’t rest on their 2-0 advantage and kept the attacks going.

• 2-1-4-1-2 build-up shape. The first pass is to CBs. GK looks for CB > CB to FB > FB to CM > CM to CAM or back to retain**.** Often going out wide from the CB, then look to play inside for ball progression. Or, GK looks for CB > CB to CM > CM to FB > FB to CM/CAM. Still looking for Out then In.
• If they go long (rarely), they aim for Roko Simic to win a flick on (1.9 m tall).
• Vertical progression. RB Salzburg look to progress through teams by the use of vertical progression. It involves quick combinations and full-backs wide stretching opposition shape, allowing roaming movements in central areas to receive centrally. Always looked for the interior player when the ball is worked out wide to full-backs.
• When Salzburg are able to flow, quick one-touch passing combinations during progression. It is important for the opposition to anticipate passes or they could be done for. This can also lead to turnover in possession if not executed well.
• Full-backs give the team constant width support. This is natural, given the system only has one wide player on each flank; their interior partners will provide them with support in possession. Both full-backs will look to time their runs. Both stay deep during 1st phase of build-up and will begin penetrating runs as Salzburg approaches the 3rd phase. Both full-backs have attacking instincts. Dedic already has 4 goals in all competitions. Will use wide full-backs as outlets if central progression isn’t possible.
• Both CFs are on the opposition defence line, ALWAYS!. Both CFs are ready to pull wide to stretch the opposition’s defence line. It is extremely dangerous for opposition defence as Roko Simic and Konate both possess great speed and movement. Through-balls down the channel can be dangerous for the opposition team. Petkov and Koita, the subs, similar profiles.

• Due to the pace Salzburg have up-front, they look for passes behind the opposition defence line - pacey strikers looking to run in. (Salzburg complete the most (9.23) through passes per game on average and also have the best % rate in the Austrian Bundesliga).
• They like the game to be played at a high tempo, which suits their youth and energy. Brave in possession to try direct passes (forward, not long), counter-press when possession is turned over. Kjærgaard, Bidstrup and both full-backs embodied this. Super energy.
• M. Kjærgaard is excellent at finding space in the left interior and has direct actions in his play. Has good final action executions. Both interiors will look situational to shuttle wider outside the opposition block - Gloukh could then drop to link play.
• Bidstrup drops and is more involved in building attacks from deep than Kjærgaard. Kjærgaard is great at carrying the ball and bringing his team significantly closer towards goal. He will occasionally look to switch play to the right side. Bidstrup likes to hit passes into channels and retains possession with his RB.
• Oscar Gloukh (CAM) found spaces to receive in front of the opposition defence line. Both CFs are pinning CBs, so neither CB can jump onto Gloukh. While the Salzburg system naturally offers them a central numerical advantage (4v3).
• D L. Gourna-Douath is the team’s conductor in possession and will attempt various passing directness. Ability to retain possession by playing short lateral passes or stretch play with switches of play or channel balls for the CFs.
• Both strikers maintain their high position and rarely look to drop - Simic did in the attacking transition to link play. Both Koita and Simic constantly looked to make runs in behind, across the face of defenders and on the blind side of defenders. This mix of movements created doubt in CB decision-making when defending, to follow or not to follow. Simic is more likely to hold-up play with his strong upper body strength.