Salzburg face Pafos in Europa League qualifier

Red Bull Salzburg begin their European campaign against Pafos FC in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, ORF reports. The Austrian club host the Cypriot cup winners in Wals-Siezenheim on Thursday, aiming to build an advantage before the return leg.

Salzburg enter the match after a 7-1 Austrian Cup win over Oberwart and a 1-0 Bundesliga victory against Hartberg. Coach Danny Röhl will also have Edmund Baidoo available again after the forward was left out of the squad at the weekend.

Salzburg dominated Hartberg but needed a late goal despite recording 28 shots. Röhl said the early victories had strengthened the team’s belief and described the start to the season as a good one. He wants Thursday’s match to turn it into a successful start.

Pafos began its European campaign one round earlier, overcoming Hajduk Split 4-2 on aggregate after losing the first leg 2-0. Cyprus’s domestic season does not begin until the end of August.

The club also brings European experience. In its first UEFA Champions League appearance last season, Pafos earned nine points in the league phase and missed out on the next round only because of an inferior goal difference.

Röhl described Pafos as an experienced team that knows how to use its strengths. The Cypriots rely heavily on the wings and set pieces, he said. Their recent starting lineups featured only players aged 25 or older, led by 39-year-old Brazilian David Luiz, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012.

The return match will be played in Limassol. If Salzburg eliminate Pafos, they are guaranteed a place in a European league phase. In the final Europa League playoff round, they would face the loser of the Champions League qualifier between Mjällby AIF and Slovan Bratislava. Slovan won the first leg in Sweden 2-1.

If Salzburg are eliminated by Pafos, they would enter the Conference League playoff round against the winner of FK Auda of Latvia and Albania’s Dinamo City.