Starting position
The Red Bulls have experienced ups and downs in the last few rounds, alternating between victories and defeats, and have also had to permanently replace a number of regular players who are on convalescence. The reigning Austrian champions want to return to a consistently strong performance and consolidate their position in the top half of the table. Yesterday, the Red Bulls returned to sixth place after their 3:1 home win against Innsbruck and could draw level with the fourth-placed Upper Austrians on points with a win in Linz.
The game against the Black Wings Linz is a real touchstone, as every encounter develops into a derby with all the ingredients that go with it; tough duels, lots of speed, heated friction and goals. On New Year's Day, Linz can also look forward to a racy duel, as the Black Wings are battling against a recent slump. They have only won once in their last four games, most recently losing 5-2 in Graz three days ago.
New Year's games
Statistically speaking, the Red Bulls have a good chance of winning the game based on the results of the last ten years. Salzburg emerged victorious seven times from ten New Year's Day games (only 2022 was only played on January 2). Six of the New Year's Day games went beyond regulation time; three times the game was decided in overtime and three times it went to a shootout.
The Red Bulls played their only New Year's Day game to date against the Black Wings Linz on January 1, 2011, winning 4:2 at home. The Red Bulls started 2024 with a 2:1 away win against the Moser Medical Graz99ers. The Red Bulls also greeted the new year with a win in the two previous years, beating Villach 3:1 at home in 2023 and Bruneck 3:2 after overtime in 2022.