On Thursday, 5 November, the Mauves will welcome FC Salzburg at the Park for Matchday 4 of the League Phase of the Europa League. Discover more about a club with an impressive recent trophy record, which is once again aiming to win the Austrian league title this season. We also look back at the last spectacular meeting between the two clubs at the Astrid Park.
The Austrian club was founded on 13 September 1933 under the name SV Austria Salzburg, following a merger between Hertha and Rapid, two clubs from the city of Salzburg. The club was dissolved in 1950 but re-established later that same year. In 1953, it reached the Austrian top division for the first time. However, it was not until 1994 that the club was crowned Austrian champions for the first time.
During the season of that first league title, the club also reached its only European final, which was still played over two legs at the time. In the UEFA Cup (the former Europa League), Salzburg lost both legs 1-0 to Italian giants Inter Milan. Further league titles followed in 1995 and 1997, but the club then had to wait ten years before being crowned Austrian champions again.
The club’s revival began with the arrival of an energy drink brand as its new owner. In 2005, Red Bull acquired the club. Its name was changed to FC Red Bull Salzburg (although the club competes in European competitions under the name FC Salzburg), its crest was redesigned and its colours changed from purple and white to red and white. This sparked fierce protests among the supporters.
Despite numerous protests and negotiations, no compromise could be reached with the disgruntled supporters. They wanted to preserve the club’s traditions and therefore refused to support the team under its new identity. Instead, they founded a new club under the name SV Austria Salzburg, which returned to its traditional purple and white colours. The club that emerged from this protest movement now competes in the Austrian second division.
Those who chose to remain loyal to the rebranded club, however, would soon have plenty to celebrate. Salzburg won the league title in 2007, followed by further triumphs in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Even more remarkably, RB Salzburg made history by winning no fewer than ten consecutive league titles between 2014 and 2023. A period of complete dominance.
In addition to its league titles, the club won the Austrian Cup for the first time in 2012. It has since lifted the trophy nine times in total. With seventeen league titles to its name, Salzburg now boasts an impressive trophy cabinet. Nevertheless, it still ranks third in terms of domestic honours, behind Rapid Vienna (32 league titles and 14 cups) and Austria Vienna (24 league titles and 27 cups).
To achieve these results, the club does not rely solely on established players. Salzburg also invests heavily in youth development and the scouting of young talent. In 2017, it even won the UEFA Youth League. Players such as Erling Haaland, Sadio Mané, Dominik Szoboszlai, Dayot Upamecano, Karim Adeyemi, Benjamin Sesko, Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer and Takumi Minamino all have a history with the club in Mozart’s hometown.
In recent seasons, however, Salzburg have failed to win any silverware. They finished second, second, third and second again. The Austrians have nevertheless made a strong start to the new season. Still unbeaten, they sit second in the standings, three points behind Rapid Vienna – whom they convincingly defeated 5-1 – and five points ahead of reigning champions LASK Linz.
In the Europa League, Salzburg currently sit 21st in the League Phase. They are just above RSCA, with one more point than the Mauves. After eliminating Cypriot side Pafos (1-0 and 3-3) and Mjällby (0-1 and 3-0) in the qualifying rounds, our upcoming opponents opened their campaign with a 1-0 away win against Bulgarian side Levski Sofia. They then suffered a 0-4 defeat against AC Milan before drawing 2-2 with Slovenian side Celje.
RSCA have a positive record against Austrian opposition: six wins, two draws and just one defeat. Among those six victories is, of course, the triumph over Austria Vienna in the 1978 European Cup Winners’ Cup final in Paris. The only defeat came against… Salzburg, in 1997. A 4-3 loss that RSCA overturned in the return leg with a 4-2 victory (photos above), after initially falling 2-0 behind. A real thriller.
You can watch the goals from this match on Mauve TV
Everyone at RSCA will obviously be hoping for a similar outcome this Thursday evening. Kick-off in RSCA - FC Salzburg is scheduled for 18:45 at Lotto Park.
RSCA against Austrian clubs:
- 77-78 : European Cup Winners’ Cup
RSCA 4-3 Austria Wien
Goals : 2x Rensenbrink, 2x Van Binst
- 89-90 : European Cup Winners’ Cup
RSCA 2-0 Admira Wacker
Goals : 2x Degryse
- 89-90 : European Cup Winners’ Cup
Admira Wacker 1-1 RSCA
Goal : Nilis
- 97-98 : UEFA Cup
FC Salzburg 4-3 RSCA
Goals : Iachtchouk, Goor, Stoica
- 97-98 : UEFA Cup
RSCA 4-2 FC Salzburg
Goals : 2x Peiremans, Iachtchouk, Dheedene
- 07-08 : UEFA Cup
RSCA 1-1 Rapid Wien
Goal : Akin
- 07-08 : UEFA Cup
Rapid Wien 0-1 RSCA
Goal : Akin
- 11-12 : Europa League
Sturm Graz 0-2 RSCA
Goals : Gillet, Suarez
- 11-12 : Europa League
RSCA 3-0 Sturm Graz
Goals : Gillet, Suarez, De Sutter
