Red Bull Salzburg reignited their UEFA Europa League campaign with a 3–1 victory over FC Basel 1893 at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg on Thursday night. All three home goals arrived in a ruthless first-half spell, with Kerim Alajbegović striking twice before Frans Krätzig added a third. Jeremy Agbonifo’s reply after the break prevented a rout but could not alter the outcome. The result leaves both sides locked on six points from seven league-stage matches, with Basel narrowly ahead on goal difference but still winless away from home in the competition.
First-half analysis
Thomas Letsch’s Salzburg, set up in a 4-3-3, started at full throttle and were ahead inside four minutes. Alajbegović struck the opener at 4', capitalising on Salzburg’s early pressure to put the hosts in front. The forward doubled his tally at 12', this time finishing a move involving Soumaïla Diabaté, who provided the assist, as Salzburg’s front line immediately stretched Basel’s 4-2-3-1 structure.
Basel, coached by Ludovic Magnin, struggled to establish control in midfield, and their attempts to disrupt Salzburg’s rhythm increasingly led to fouls. Agbonifo went into the book for a foul at 37', followed by Andrej Bačanin three minutes later at 40', underlining the visitors’ difficulty in containing Salzburg’s movement between the lines.
Salzburg’s dominance was rewarded again at 35' when left-back Krätzig added a third, effectively killing the contest before half-time. The only blemish for the hosts came on the stroke of the interval as Sota Kitano received a yellow card for a foul at 45', but the Austrian side went into the break with a commanding 3–0 lead.
Second half and tactical shifts
Magnin reacted decisively at half-time with a triple substitution, reshaping Basel’s approach. At 46', Xherdan Shaqiri made way for Koba Koindredi, Bénié Traoré was replaced by Albian Ajeti, and Leo Leroy came off for Dion Kacuri. The changes suggested a bid for more energy and verticality in midfield and attack, as Basel searched for a route back into the match.
The visitors maintained their aggressive edge, and Nicolas Vouilloz picked up Basel’s third yellow card for a foul at 50'. Yet the renewed intent did pay off on the scoreboard: at 56', Agbonifo reduced the deficit with Basel’s only goal of the night, giving the Swiss side a lifeline at 3–1.
Letsch responded quickly to halt any momentum swing. At 58', Yorbe Vertessen was withdrawn for Karim Onisiwo, a like-for-like attacking change that kept Salzburg’s front line fresh. Magnin continued to adjust, bringing off striker Kaio Eduardo for midfielder Marin Šotiček at 72', a move that hinted at consolidating the structure rather than chasing a wild comeback.
Salzburg then managed the closing stages with a flurry of late substitutions. At 76', Kitano made way for Moussa Kounfolo Yeo in midfield, reinforcing control in the centre. Deep into added time at 90+1', Letsch rotated heavily: Alajbegović departed to a deserved rest for Clement Bischoff, Edmund Baidoo was replaced by Karim Konaté, and Mads Bidstrup came off for Oliver Lukić. Basel’s final change saw Dominik Schmid substituted for defender Moussa Cissé at 90', adding fresh legs at the back as the match wound down without further scoring.
Statistical deep dive
The numbers underline Salzburg’s superiority. The hosts controlled 62% of the ball and completed 523 of 600 passes, an impressive 87% accuracy. Basel, with 38% possession and 286 accurate passes from 359 (80%), were forced to play more without the ball and could not sustain long spells of pressure.
In attack, Salzburg generated 21 total shots to Basel’s 9 and put 8 efforts on target compared to the visitors’ 3. The expected goals figures – 1.49 xG for Salzburg against 0.45 for Basel – reflect a home side that consistently created better chances. Despite scoring three times from a relatively modest xG, Salzburg’s volume and quality of opportunities justified their margin of victory.
Discipline also told a story of a chasing team. Basel committed 9 fouls to Salzburg’s 12 but collected three yellow cards (Agbonifo, Bačanin, Vouilloz) to Salzburg’s single caution for Kitano. The card distribution mirrored Basel’s need to break up play as Salzburg controlled territory and tempo, while the hosts managed their aggression more efficiently.
Standings and implications
In the broader Europa League league-stage picture, the win lifts Red Bull Salzburg to six points from seven matches, with a goal difference now at -4 (8 scored, 12 conceded). Their home record improves to two wins from four, underlining Red Bull Arena as their main source of points. Basel remain just ahead in the overall ranking on goal difference at -3, also on six points (9 scored, 12 conceded), but their away woes deepen: four defeats from four on the road with nine goals conceded. For both clubs, this result keeps slim qualification hopes mathematically alive but leaves no margin for error in the final round.
