“Finally it's there,” Felice Mazzu said before the game. "The Champions League begins. We face a strong opponent. They deserve our respect but we start the game without any fear. We will do our very best for a good result. I would be satisfied if we get one point."
After the defeat in CharleroiMazzu made four changes to his starting line-up. Lucumi and Maehle returned in defense. Up front Samatta and Ito started the game.
Salzburg lined up the expected 11 in a 4-4-2 with Håland and Hwang up front. “If we play our dynamic type of football whith high pressure we can take on every team," was the comment of the Austrians.
Håland scores a hat-trick before half time.
The game couldn't have kicked of any worse for the visitors. After only two minutes Minamino found Håland right in front of goal and he slid in the opening goal. Salzburg pushed on emphatically and Lucumí had to show some good defending when Minamino broke through the Genk defense. The Colombians intervention was excellent allowing Coucke to gather the ball.
Genk retaliated with a shot over the crossbar by Heynen from a Mæhle cross. Shortly after Heynen and Junuzovic's heads collided. Both needed treatment but could resume play. Shortly Gaëtan Coucke had two consecutive opportunities to show of his talent. First he was faster on the ball when Håland went for goal throught the heart of the Genk defense, seconds later he saved from a Håland header.
The home team kept pushing forward. From a corner Ramalho headed straight into the hands of Coucke and Hwang failed to put the ball past the Genk goalkeeper. With ten minutes left on the clock the home team struck hard. Hwang overpowered Dewaest and teed up Håland for his second goal of the evening. Two minutes Hwang himself scored. Lucumí’s clearance wasn’t accurate and one single kick sent the Korean on his way to scoring the 3 – 0.
Genk were gasping for air but managed to pull one back shortly after. A free kick landed right in front of goal. At first Samatta and Lucumí were in each other’s way but then the Colombian belted it home. The visitors gathered some strength from their goal and Mæhle went all the way to the touch line. He pulled the ball back to Ito but he kicked it way over.
Two minutes later, the ball was in the net on the opposite side. Wöber intercepted the ball, went all the way across the pitch to find Håland in front of goal. The Norwegian had no difficulty slotting in his third of the evening. Before half time, Genk had to take another blow. Minamino pushed forward and dropped the ball inch perfect on Szoboszlai’s right foot for the 5 - 1.
End result 6 – 2.
The second half started with a near miss. Immediately after kick-off Hwang rushed forward and took a shot at goal but Coucke was up to it. During half-time Bongonda came on to replace Ito and that paid off seven minutes in when Samatta headed home from his cross. binnen voor de 5 – 2.
But even then the home team retaliated quickly. Leftback Ulmer set up a give and go with Hwang and flicked the 6 – 2 past Coucke. Coach Mazzu brought on Hagi instead of Ndongala. Berge put in a cross for a Heynen header but Stankovic tipped the ball over the crossbar. Coucke kept Daka from scoring in injury time. A difficult evening in Salzburg ended in a 6 – 2 defeat.
Red Bull Salzburg line-up: Stankovic, Hwang, Szoboszlai (63’ Okugawa), Ramalho, Junuzovic, Ulmer, Minamino, Bernede, Håland (73’ Daka), Wöber and Kristensen (84’ Farkas).
KRC Genk line-up: Coucke, Mæhle, Dewaest, Lucumí, Uronen, Berge, Hrošovský, Heynen (86’ Onuachu), Ito (45’ Bongonda), Ndongala (73’ Hagi) and Samatta.
Goalscorers:
02’ : 1 – 0 : Håland
34’ : 2 – 0 : Håland
36’ : 3 – 0 : Hwang
41’ : 3 – 1 : Lucumí
45’ : 4 – 1 : Håland
45’ + 2’ : 5 – 1 : Szoboszlai
53’ : 5 – 2 : Samatta
66’ : 6 – 2 : Ulmer
Bookings: 48’ Kristensen, 51’ Bernede, 59’ Bongonda, 84’ Samatta
Scheidsrechter: Felix Zwayer (Duitsland)
