Europa League Showdown: Salzburg Hosts Basel in Crucial Qualification Battle
On January 22, 2026, Salzburg will host Basel at the Red Bull Arena in a pivotal UEFA Europa League group stage finale. This match is crucial for both teams' qualification hopes, with Salzburg aiming to seize their last chance for a playoff spot, while Basel looks to solidify their standing in the table. Both teams have shown inconsistent form recently, setting the stage for an intense encounter.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
Scheduled for January 22, 2026, this match is a critical fixture in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League league phase. Salzburg will host Basel at their home ground, the Red Bull Arena [3, 6]. For the home side, Salzburg, this match represents a 'very last chance' to remain competitive for the playoff stage [7]. They need a favorable result to keep their qualification hopes alive. Reports indicate Salzburg is currently ranked 31st in the Europa League [3]. Basel, meanwhile, appears competitive for a top 24 position thanks to two home victories and is just one point behind the qualifying places [7]. Basel currently holds the 26th position in the Europa League rankings [3].
Recent Form
Salzburg's form in the 2025/26 season has been somewhat inconsistent. While they managed to clinch the first position in their domestic league with two consecutive victories, their 9-5-3 record is described as far from their typical dominant performance [7]. In the Europa League, they haven't appeared very competitive, except for a home victory over Go Ahead Eagles [7]. Salzburg has suffered 5 losses in their last 6 Europa League matches [9]. As for Basel, while they seem competitive for a top 24 spot due to two home victories, they have shown very little, especially on the road, without a realistic chance to get something so far [7]. They enter the match with a record of 3 draws in their last 6 outings and a 50% win rate in their recent 6 away matches [9].
Key Players & Injury News
Key players for Salzburg include forwards Petar Ratkov and Karim Konaté, midfielder Maurits Kjaergaard, and defender Aleksa Terzic [25, 4]. Regarding injuries, defenders Chase, Mellberg, and midfielder Kawamura are reportedly out injured and have not played this season [7]. For Basel, Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri remains a central figure, while forwards Philip Otele and Albian Ajeti are also crucial in attack [19, 15]. Injury news indicates that defender Keigo Tsunemoto and forward Philip Otele are doubtful for the match, while midfielder Metinho and forward Moritz Broschinski are confirmed injured [7].