The Red Bull Arena in Salzburg is set for a high-stakes European night as Red Bull Salzburg welcome FC Porto for their opening match of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League group stage. Scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2025, with kick-off at 20:00 BST, this fixture marks the first-ever European encounter between the Austrian and Portuguese clubs, and anticipation is running high on both sides of the Alps.
Salzburg’s path to this stage has been anything but smooth. After a disappointing exit from the UEFA Champions League play-offs at the hands of Club Brugge—losing 4-2 on aggregate—the Austrian champions have been forced to recalibrate their ambitions. The drop to the Europa League has not been accompanied by a turn in domestic fortune, either. Salzburg are coming off back-to-back defeats in the Austrian Bundesliga, falling 3-1 to Wolfsberg and 2-0 to Sturm Graz, the latter of which saw midfielder Soumaila Diabate sent off in the 22nd minute. Although Diabate’s ban is confined to domestic play, the red card further highlighted the defensive frailties that have plagued Thomas Letsch’s side in recent weeks.
Injuries have compounded Salzburg’s woes. Key players Takumu Kawamura, John Mellberg, and Karim Konate are all sidelined with knee injuries, while Valentin Sulzbacher (ankle) and Justin Omoregie (Achilles) are also out. The absence of their prolific forward Konate, in particular, leaves a significant void up front. To make matters worse, Clement Bischoff is suspended for this European tie due to a red card received last month while playing for Brondby in the UEFA Conference League. The pressure is mounting on coach Thomas Letsch, who has alternated between his preferred 4-2-2-2 system and a more conventional 4-2-3-1 in recent weeks to try and steady the ship.
Despite their recent struggles, Salzburg have a proud record in the Europa League group stage. This is their first campaign since 2018-19, when they impressively won all six group matches. Even more, they’re unbeaten in their last 15 group games in the competition (11 wins, 4 draws) since a 1-0 loss to Nice in October 2016. However, they’ll have to dig deep to maintain that streak against a Porto side brimming with confidence.
FC Porto arrive in Austria with momentum firmly on their side. Under new coach Francesco Farioli, the Dragões have won all six of their competitive fixtures this season, including a crucial 2-1 victory over domestic rivals Sporting and a 3-0 triumph against Rio Ave. Porto’s defensive solidity has been a hallmark of their early campaign—they’ve conceded just one goal in six matches and have not allowed more than 1.0 expected goals (xG) in any fixture so far.
Farioli has instilled a clear identity, favoring a 4-3-3 formation and a slightly more direct style than many expected from the Italian tactician. The focal point of Porto’s attack is the powerful Samu Aghehowa, who has already netted four goals in five Liga Portugal games this term. The 21-year-old Nigerian enjoyed a sensational debut season last year, scoring 27 times in 45 appearances, including six goals in nine Europa League outings. "Samu has scored four goals in five Liga Portugal games, including one in each of his last two," noted Betfred Insights, underlining his current form. He also found the net twice at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. With Salzburg having conceded two or more goals in each of their last three matches, Samu will fancy his chances of extending his scoring streak.
Porto, however, are not without their own injury concerns. Midfielder Stephe Eustaquio is suspended after receiving a red card in their last European match, a 3-2 defeat to AS Roma in February. Defenders Nehuen Perez (Achilles), Martim Fernandes (knee), and Alberto Costa (muscle) are all out, while back-up striker Luuk de Jong has missed the last two games. These absences have forced some tactical tweaks, with summer signing Pablo Rosario, typically a midfielder, now covering at right-back. Rosario has struggled to adapt fully to the unfamiliar role and has developed a reputation for disciplinary issues. He’s been booked in three of his last four appearances for club and country and picked up six yellows and a red in Ligue 1 last season. "Rosario looks like a solid bet to go into the referee's notebook in Salzburg at 3/1," according to Betfred Insights.
Porto’s midfield dynamism has been boosted by the arrival of Gabri Veiga from Al-Ahli. The 23-year-old Spaniard has already tallied four goal contributions since his summer move and is expected to play a pivotal role in breaking down Salzburg’s defense. With Porto creating at least 1.5 xG in all six of their games this season, the visitors have the attacking firepower to trouble any defense in Europe.
Historically, Porto have enjoyed their meetings with Austrian opposition, never losing in six previous encounters in major European competitions (five wins, one draw). Their last such match was a 1-1 draw with Austria Wien in the 2013 UEFA Champions League group stage. For Salzburg, their most recent clash with a Portuguese club ended in a 3-1 defeat to Benfica in December 2023.
As for the odds, bookmakers have installed Porto as favorites, with odds hovering around 2.07 for an away win, compared to Salzburg’s 3.4. The draw is priced at 3.62, reflecting the prevailing view that Porto’s form and defensive record give them the edge. Still, Salzburg’s attacking intent and home advantage mean this contest is far from a foregone conclusion.
Both sides will be eager to start their group stage campaign with three points, especially in a group that promises to be fiercely competitive. For Salzburg, a positive result would go a long way to restoring confidence after a string of disappointing results. For Porto, it’s about maintaining momentum and laying down a marker as one of the tournament favorites.
Fans across Europe can catch the action live on TNT Sports Extra in the UK, with streaming available via Discovery+. With both teams yet to register a point in the new Europa League campaign, Thursday’s clash in Salzburg is set to be a true test of character and ambition for two clubs with plenty to prove on the continental stage.
As the teams prepare for kick-off, all eyes are on the Red Bull Arena. Will Salzburg’s home record and group stage pedigree see them through, or will Porto’s red-hot form and attacking prowess prove too much for the Austrians? One thing’s certain—this is a European night not to be missed.
