5-1! Perfect Bundesliga home opener vs BW Linz

Salzburg festival of attacking football

  Our fourth match of the season saw our fourth win. We could not have asked for any more on a superb summer's day than the way our boys sparkled under the lights at the Red Bull Arena on their first home match of the Austrian Bundesliga season against a brave FC Blau-Weiß Linz. The 5-1 win on the second Bundesliga matchday was more than deserved thanks to some breathtaking attacking football in the second period. Our boys now go into the UEFA Champions League qualifying second leg in the Netherlands brimming with self-belief.

Match summary

Pepijn Lijnders brought fresh legs into the tie after our UEFA Champions League win on Tuesday.  Moussa Yeo made his first-ever Bundesliga start, while Swedish youngster John Mellberg – who extended his contract with us this week until 2028 - made his competitive debut for our Red Bulls, right from the start.

Also from the start - like our previous performances this season - was sheer action from the word go! Just like against FC Twente and GAK, it did not take long for the first goal to come - but the visitors found the net. A quick move among the Linz outfit, whom we weren't able to get close enough to - led to Connor Noß (12') turning in from short range for a surprise 1-0 lead.

We continued to dictate the play, however, and soon struck back! Dedic dribbled superbly on the edge of the penalty area before Oscar Gloukh met the ball across right away to slot inside the far post (15'). The masterful playmaker then struck again less than 20 minutes later as he burst out of a tight spot to play a quick one-two with Petar Ratkov before knocking the ball in for 2-1 – as we surged in front (34')!

Gloukh almost grabbed a sensational hat-trick, only for Manuel Maranda to clear the ball away from the line to deny him. Chances came by the minute before the half-time whistle sounded.

We continued exactly where we left off at the start of the second half and put Blau-Weiß goalie Nicolas Schmid under continuous pressure. There was no stopping one of our number today though - Oscar Gloukh!

Moussa Yeo mazed his way past an opponent and cut the ball into the middle, where the 20-year-old Israeli converted clinically for 3-1 (62'). You could see the hope drain from the faces of the opponents at this stage as we stepped up and continued our sensational attacking show. Having provided an assist, Yeo crowned a fine first start a short while later with his first Bundesliga goal as we made it 4-1 (72'), after he made light work of the opposing defence with a quick twist and a well-placed shot.

FC Blau-Weiß Linz found it harder and harder to live with the tempo of our boys. The final touch came from Mads Bidstrup, who played in an unusually attacking position after coming on as a substitute. The Danish midfielder showed he can cut a decent figure in attack too by converting an absolute dream pass from compatriot Maurits Kjaergaard in the 77th minute to make it 5-1.

The win ensured we top the table until Sunday evening, at least, and take our winning run into our Champions League qualifier second leg in Enschede on Tuesday. Now it's a matter of throwing everything we have into the clash against Twente …

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To follow.

Line-up

Substitutions

Terzic for Mellberg (64'), Kjaergaard for Capaldo (64'), Nene for Ratkov (64'), Bidstrup for Gloukh (74'), Gourna-Douath for Yeo (77')

Yellow cards

Piatkowski (32' foul)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Hendry Blank (thigh), Fernando (thigh), Daouda Guindo (metatarsal), Takumu Kawamura (knee), Karim Konate (knee), Leandro Morgalla (thigh) and Alexander Schlager (knee).