Chelsea vs RB Salzburg: Champions League betting guide
By Mike Malley
The sheer uncertainty surrounding Chelsea makes me hesitant to bet on the final result, so I’ll probably be steering clear of any wagers in that arena. The only play that I feel particularly confident about is under 3.5 total goals scored at -156 odds. The 2020/21 European champions have struggled mightily in their first competitive matches following recent managerial sackings. In fact, the team failed to score in its first meaningful 90’ under Maurizio Sarri, Frank Lampard, and Tuchel himself, losing those games by a combined 6-0 scoreline.
Considering the fact that Potter has had so little time to work with his new players, I wouldn’t expect much offensive creativity from one of Chelsea’s stalest forward lines in living memory. At the very least, it will probably take a few matches for the struggling attackers to find their top form.
This lack of goals would, however, be in stark contrast to the trend of Salzburg’s early clashes. RB has been finding the back of the net with relative ease in the Austrian Bundesliga, scoring 21 times in only eight matches. Manager Matthias Jaissle has built an incredible attacking triumvirate in Noah Okafor, Fernando, and Benjamin Sesko, who have combined for 12 of those 21 domestic goals, with his side sitting comfortably atop of the Austrian Bundesliga table.