Red Bull Salzburg begin another European campaign on Thursday evening, but this time the route to continental football starts in the UEFA Europa League rather than the Champions League.

The Austrian giants welcome Cypriot cup winners Pafos to the Red Bull Arena in the first leg of their third qualifying-round tie, with both clubs eyeing a place in the play-offs. While Salzburg are determined to re-establish themselves among Europe’s elite after an underwhelming domestic campaign, Pafos arrive believing another upset could extend what has become an impressive rise on the continental stage.

Both sides have already shown resilience in different ways this season, making this one of the more intriguing ties of the qualifying round.

Salzburg are eager to restore familiar standards

For a club accustomed to dominating Austrian football, last season represented a rare setback. A third-place finish forced Salzburg to take an unfamiliar route into Europe, but the summer has brought significant change. Danny Röhl has taken charge with the clear objective of returning the club to where it believes it belongs, and his early weeks in the role have offered encouraging signs.

A convincing Austrian Cup victory was followed by a dramatic league win over Hartberg, where Karim Konaté emerged from the bench to score a late winner. The performance itself was not flawless, but finding a way to collect three points reflected a mentality Salzburg have built their reputation on over the past decade.

European football has rarely intimidated the Austrian side. Whether in the Champions League or Europa League, Salzburg have consistently developed young talent capable of competing at a higher level, and home matches remain occasions where they usually dictate the tempo from the opening whistle.

Konaté’s late impact at the weekend could earn him a starting role, while the squad still possesses enough pace and creativity to stretch opponents who prefer to defend in compact numbers.

Pafos have proved they belong on the European stage

Pafos are no longer newcomers to continental football. Back-to-back appearances in UEFA competitions have accelerated the club’s development, and last week’s comeback against Hajduk Split demonstrated why they have become one of Cyprus’ most competitive sides.

Recovering from a two-goal first-leg deficit required both belief and composure. Ricardo Sá Pinto’s players showed plenty of both, gradually taking control of the tie before finishing the job in extra time to complete one of the standout turnarounds of the previous qualifying round.

That resilience will be tested again in Austria. Unlike Hajduk, Salzburg are likely to dominate possession for long spells, forcing Pafos to defend deeper than they perhaps prefer. Fortunately for the visitors, defensive discipline has become one of their strengths during recent European campaigns, and they have repeatedly shown they are comfortable waiting for opportunities to attack in transition.

There are, however, selection issues to manage. Goalkeeper Charalambos Kyriakidis remains unavailable through injury, while winger Jaja’s long-term absence removes one of the squad’s most direct attacking outlets. New arrival Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu also has to wait before making his European debut.

Verdict

Pafos deserve enormous credit for reaching this stage and have already shown they possess the resilience required to survive difficult European ties.

This challenge feels different. Salzburg’s quality in possession, experience at this level and strong home record make them deserved favourites to take control before next week’s return leg in Cyprus. The visitors should remain competitive for long periods, but the Austrian side appear better equipped to produce the decisive moments.

Tip

Red Bull Salzburg to win.