Thomas Letsch starts his second term as Salzburg coach with the friendly against Bayern Munich. The 56-year-old and the Austrian Champions League starter can certainly draw courage from the past.
In 2023, Bayern and Salzburg drew 4-4.
IMAGO/kolbert-press
On January 22nd (9 p.m., LIVE! on kicker), the Champions League away game at Real Madrid is not only Red Bull Salzburg's first competitive game after the winter break, but also a highlight in the club's history so far. It's only natural that the Austrian runner-up wants to be prepared for an emergency. With FC Bayern Munich, who Salzburg will face on Monday (6 p.m., LIVE! on kicker), at best an adequate test match opponent has been found.
The two clubs tested against each other two years ago, when there was a 4-4 draw in Munich after a turbulent game. Things went even better from Salzburg's perspective in January 2014, when they achieved a 3-0 home win in front of their home crowd. “I have never played against a team with such intensity,” said then Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, heaping praise on the Austrians, who are still without a win in competitive games against FCB.
Salzburg is now a long way from similarly glorious times. After a disappointing autumn season, the former series champions are only in fifth place in the domestic league, which is why they parted ways with Pepijn Linders in the winter. Under his successor Thomas Letsch, who already worked as RB coach on an interim basis in the winter of 2015, the old ranking should now be restored at the national level. “We want to achieve the highest goals, champions and cup winners,” emphasized the 56-year-old when he took office.
See you again with friends and co.
Letsch will tackle the friendly against the German record champions with good memories. “Playing against Bayern is always something special. In fact, my last win as a coach was against them,” said the former Bochum coach, referring to VfL's surprising 3-2 home win in February 2024. Letsch was released at the beginning of April and the game against Munich marked his return to the coaching bench. The eyes will not only be on him on Monday, as in addition to the two players Konrad Laimer and Dayot Upamecano, sports director Christoph Freund and assistant coach René Maric also have a Salzburg past.
The duel with Salzburg is the only test game in the winter preparation for Vincent Kompany's team, on Saturday (6.30 p.m., LIVE! on kicker) the Bundesliga starts again for Bayern in Gladbach. FCB overwintered at the top of the table with a four point lead over Leverkusen and will play three English weeks in a row at the start of the new calendar year. It can therefore be assumed that the test will not only serve as a real indicator for Salzburg.
