Mjallby AIF vs Salzburg – News and Probable Lineups

Mjallby AIF is set to host Red Bull Salzburg at Strandvallen on Thursday night for the opening leg of their UEFA Europa League final qualifying round fixture.

In their latest match, Gulsvart secured a vital 4-3 win over Allsvenskan leaders Sirius, while Die Roten Bullen earned a 3-0 victory against WSG Tirol at Tivoli Stadion Tirol.

Match overview

Following a remarkable 2025 Allsvenskan season where they ended up 13 points clear of second-placed Hammarby, Mjallby clinched their first league title, thereby earning a spot in this season’s UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

In the preliminary round, facing Gibraltarian team Lincoln Red Imps, Gulsvart achieved a comprehensive 3-0 aggregate win, but after a heavy loss to Slovakian side Bratislava in the following round, the Swedish club has dropped down to the Europa League for the first time in history.

Despite an impressive 4-3 win over league leaders Sirius last weekend, Karl Marius Aksum’s squad returns to European competition in poor form, currently sitting just four points clear of the relegation zone in 11th place after 16 matches in the Allsvenskan.

Mjallby has never faced an Austrian team before, and a win on Thursday would set a new milestone for the club, which will be eager to regain a sense of positivity and take a valuable advantage into the return leg next week.

After a series of 10 straight wins, RB Salzburg lost out on the Austrian Bundesliga title for the third year in a row in the 2025-26 season, and thus they are competing in the Europa League qualifying rounds for the first time in 11 years.

Making their entry into the competition at the third qualifying round, Die Roten Bullen advanced by overcoming last season’s Champions League debutants Pafos FC, achieving a 1-0 victory in the first leg before coming back from two goals down in the second leg to secure a 3-3 draw and earn their place in the final playoff tie.

With ambitions to contend for trophies again this season, Danny Rohl’s team has also made a strong start to their domestic 2026-27 campaign, collecting seven points from their first three Bundesliga matches and advancing to the OFB Cup round of 32 with a thrilling 7-1 win over SV Oberwart.

Although they have yet to face Mjallby, RB Salzburg will hope to leverage their promising start this season to improve their recent record on Swedish soil, having lost their last two trips there, both by 3-0 to Malmo FF.

Team News

Mjallby continues to be without Finnish striker Timo Stavitski, who has not played since May but is expected to recover from his back injury later this month.

Among the departures for Mjallby are 21-year-old forward Abdoulie Manneh, who has been loaned to Cercle Brugge, and midfielder Elliot Stroud, who has transferred to Premier League outfit Hull City.

RB Salzburg’s Justin Omoregie and Anrie Chase are both sidelined due to thigh injuries, while Enrique Aguilar and Stefan Lainer are anticipated to return from hand and heel injuries within a fortnight.

It remains uncertain if Soumaila Diabate, Edmund Baidoo, or Gaoussou Diakite will be available for the match on Thursday, as all three have recently sustained minor injuries.

In the past week, Die Rotten Bullen have also lost Aleksa Terzic to Frosinone and French midfielder Lucas Gourna-Douath to Hull City, earning a total of £6 million from the pair.

Mjallby AIF probable starting XI:

Wallinder; Iqbal, Svanberg, Pettersson; Granath, Gustaxon, Gustafson, Hoffmann; Kjaer, Bergstrom, Samuelsen

Red Bull Salzburg probable starting XI:

Zawieschitzky; Veratschnig, Boma, Zabransky, Schmid; Barry, Vertessen, Mazurek; Kitano, Tabakovic, Redzic

After a disappointing start to the new season, Mjallby will be aiming to bounce back in style by securing a strong position in the upcoming Europa League competition on Thursday.

Nevertheless, facing a RB Salzburg side that possesses quality and recent continental experience, it seems likely that the Swedish team may find it challenging to gain an advantage heading into the second leg next week.