Football Season Guide

Salzburg had some domestic wobbles midway through the previous campaign but were very impressive both before and after that and managed to win yet another domestic title. They kept going strong despite losing Erling Haland midway through the campaign, but saw a new star emerge in the second half of the season in Dominik Szoboszlai, whose future is uncertain, with the attacking midfielder heavily linked with a move away. At the moment, their squad is very similar compared to last season - they have lost one notable player in Hee-Chan Hwang, who joins sister club Leipzig, while their transfer policy remains to develop youth, with summer signings Oumar Solet an Samson Tijani both set to play for their reserve team first, while Ousmane Diakite and Luca Meisl are back with the squad following loan spells in minor Bundesliga sides. Regardless of whether Szoboszlai stays or goes, Salzburg will still have an impressive squad and it will take a massive bit of underperformance by them for any other side to have a shot at usurping their domestic throne. The Red Bulls will be very interested in how they will do in Europe - they played in the Champions League group stage for the first time last season. They will be looking to qualify again and, after narrowly missing out on a knock-out place last time around, perhaps do one better and make it out of the group.