Between war and Champions League

For Salzburg The first home game is on Tuesday Champions League on the program. The opponent is called Brest Stadium (6.45 p.m./live on Sky) and after the false start in Prague, a victory is almost mandatory for the Austrian runner-up. In any case, the dress rehearsal in the league was a success. In the 2-0 win against Austria, Salzburg initially had a bit of luck and then a lot of glory. Oscar Gloukh was the match winner with his two goals and is also seen as a beacon of hope against Brest. The 20-year-old Israeli should score the first points in the premier class.

At just 1.71 meters, he is the smallest in the Salzburg team, but he is the one who sets the tone. “He is a player who can make the difference,” also recognized Austria-Trainer Stephan Helm to. With five goals, he is Salzburg’s best shooter this season. After missing the start of the season because he was on duty for Israel at the Olympics, Gloukh is getting better and better. That’s his too Coach Pep Lijnders It didn’t go unnoticed that his protégé’s enthusiasm for playing was particularly impressive: “When he stands with the ball towards the goal, he can create a lot himself. He’s very dangerous.”

Joy of play and worries

Gloukh is increasingly turning out to be a stroke of luck for Salzburg. They have seven million euros for the then 18-year-old midfielder in January 2023 Maccabi Tel Aviv transferred. It currently has a market value of 25 million euros Together with Karim Konate, he is the most valuable player in the bull stable, and the trend is rising.

In the beginning it was harmless things like the weather that Gloukh had to get used to. “That was difficult for me, I didn’t know anything about the snow and the sub-zero temperatures,” he said at the time. He has long since thawed out and – unfortunately – has completely different worries. There is war in his homeland Israel, and his family and friends are in the middle of it. His best friend died during an operation in the Gaza Strip in the spring.

He doesn’t talk much in public about what is undoubtedly an extremely stressful situation. In the past, he appeared on Instagram with an Israel flag and also campaigned for Hamas hostages. In the words: “Advocating for hostages is not political. It’s humanitarian.”

“He needs freedom”

Gloukh doesn’t show any of these worries on the pitch; it seems as if football was the best distraction from these unpleasant things for the noble technician. After Salzburg’s slump with three games without a win (Rapid, Sparta Prague, WSG Tirol) including disappointing performances, he almost single-handedly led the team out of the results crisis with his joy of playing.

Coach Lijnders puts the “going it alone” into perspective. The Dutchman knows exactly: “It is important how the team moves around him so that he can play his game. He needs freedom.” What happens when everything comes together was last seen in the second half against Austria. “It looks like he’s playing on the street.”

Gloukh himself was not entirely satisfied with his performance against Austria: “There are things in every game that can be improved.” He knows: “Brest will be a completely different game.” With a little luck and Gloukh, it will also be a successful one for Salzburg.