Austrian highfliers RB Salzburg will host Portuguese juggernauts FC Porto as they kick off their 2025/26 UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday night.
Salzburg had a shot at qualifying for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. They started well, beating Brann 5-2 on aggregate in the second round. In the third and final round, however, they fell short, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Club Brugge.
FC Porto, meanwhile, finished third in the Primeira Liga last season to qualify for the Europa League. League winner Sporting CP directly qualifed for the Champions League, while Benfica joined them in the competition through play-offs.
Porto are joined by SC Braga in the Europa League this season, who face Feyenoord in their Europa opener. According to Braga vs Feyenoord tips, the Primeira Liga side are the favourites to get the win on Wednesday.
RB Salzburg vs FC Porto Preview and Team News
Preview
One of the most successful teams in Austria, RB Salzburg, have endured an underwhelming start to the season. Thomas Letsch’s boys have picked up only 11 points from seven Bundesliga matches this season, registering three wins, two draws, and two defeats. Rapid Wien are leading the title race after scoring 17 points from seven games.
Salzburg are without a win in their last three Bundesliga matches, playing out one draw and suffering two defeats. In their last outing, on Saturday, Salzburg suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Sturm Graz.
🗣 Thomas #Letsch: In den ersten fünf, sechs Minuten waren wir nicht gut am Platz, waren in den Duellen oft nur zweiter Sieger und hatten katastrophale Ballverluste. Nach dem aberkannten Gegentor sind wir besser reingekommen, und mit dem Ausschluss war es dann ein anderes Spiel.… pic.twitter.com/KV7lotTQPe
— FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) September 20, 2025
FC Porto, meanwhile, have been on the other end of the spectrum. The Primeira Liga side have been absolutely flying under Francesco Farioli. They have won all six of their Portuguese top-flight matches to climb to the top of the rankings. The Dragons have scored 15 goals and conceded just one. In their last match, Porto claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory away at Rio Ave.
— FC Porto (@FCPorto) September 24, 2025
Porto predominantly compete in the Champions League, but they have had success in the Europa League as well. In their previous seven appearances in the UEL, Porto have gone the distance once, lifting the trophy in the 2010/11 season.
Team News
RB Salzburg will miss Karim Konate, John Mellberg, and Takumu Kawamura on Thursday, with all nursing knee injuries.
FC Porto will be without Stephen Eustaquio, who saw a red card in the play-off tie against Roma. The game also too early for Luuk de Jong (undiscloses injury), Nehuen Perez (tendon), Martim Fernandes (knee), and Alberto Costa (knee).
RB Salzburg vs FC Porto Match Details
⚽Teams: RB Salzburg vs FC Porto
🗓️Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
🏆 Competition: UEFA Europa League – Matchday 1
🟥Ref: Vassilis Fotias
⌚KO: 8:00 PM BST
📺Where to Watch: TNT Sports 6
🏟️Stadium: Red Bull Arena
RB Salzburg vs FC Porto Stats
- This will be RB Salzburg and FC Porto’s first competitive meeting
- RB Salzburg are unbeaten in their last 15 group stage / league phase games (W 11, D 4)
- Salzburg lost their last competitive match against a Portuguese opponent – 3-1 to Benfica in the 2022/23 Champions League season
- FC Porto have been dominant against Austrian opponents, winning 5 matches and drawing 1
- Porto have won their last 5 matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding once
- In their last 5 matches, RB Salzburg have won 2, drawn 1, and lost 2; They scored 11 goals and conceded 8
- FC Porto have a poor away record in Europe, losing 10 of their last 17 matches; They last lost 3-2 to Roma in Europa League play-offs
- Salzburg failed to keep a clean sheet in 6 of their last 10 matches in all competitions
- With 5 goals, Petar Ratkov is Salzburg’s top scorer this season
- Samuel Aghehowa is Porto’s top scorer in 2025/26 with 4 goals
RB Salzburg vs FC Porto Head-to-Head
This will be the first competitive meeting between RB Salzburg and FC Porto. Salzburg, however, has faced Portuguese teams six times in Europe, recording four wins, one draw, and one defeat.
Porto have also met Austrian opponents six times in Europe, beating them five times and drawing once.
RB Salzburg vs FC Porto Betting Odds
FC Porto’s impressive record make them favourites in their UEFA Europa League clash against RB Salzburg. They are at 1/1 with UK bookmakers, while Salzburg are priced at a more lucrative 5/2.
Oddsmakers are confident of seeing both teams on the scoresheet on Thursday night, expecting teams to score over 2.5 goals.
Match Result
- RB Salzburg – 5/2
- Draw – 3/1
- FC Porto – 1/1
Both Teams to Score
- Yes – 4/6
- No – 6/5
Goals Over/Under 2.5
- Under 2.5 Goals – 6/5
- Over 2.5 Goals – 4/5
*Odds are subject to change
RB Salzburg vs FC Porto Prediction and Best Bet
RB Salzburg will have the home advantage on Thursday night. However, we are not sure how much of an impact that would have. In their last five matches at the Red Bull Arena, Salzburg have won two, drawn one, and lost two, which is hardly confidence inspiring.
Porto, meanwhile, are at the top of their game, winning every match they have played this season. Their away record in Europe is not great, but we believe they will improve upon it on Matchday 1.
Our Prediction: RB Salzburg 1-3 FC Porto
Best Bet: Game to Produce Over 2.5 Goals @4/5
