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Pep Lijnders suffers another Champions League mauling after bold Stefan Bajcetic decision

-Credit: (Image: Getty)
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


Former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders is still searching for his first Champions League point with Red Bull Salzburg after being beaten by Brest.

Lijnders followed Jurgen Klopp out of the Anfield exit door in the summer to take the reins with Austrian outfit Salzburg. He immediately returned to Liverpool to complete the permanent signing of Bobby Clark, while Stefan Bajcetic also arrived on a season-long loan.

Salzburg sits third in the domestic table with four wins from six matches but their European campaign has not gone to plan. Lijnders' side was beaten 3-0 by Sparta Prague in the opening round of matches before hosting Brest on Tuesday night.

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But despite being favorites against the French outfit, Salzburg was thrashed 4-0. It was a frustrating night all round for those with Liverpool connections, with Bajcetic dropping to the bench and only coming on for the last 13 minutes. Clark meanwhile was withdrawn on the hour mark.

The hosts thought they had taken an early lead through Samson Baidoo but the goal was ruled out before Abdallah Sima opened the scoring for the visitors. Both sides had chances after the break but Salzburg was unable to capitalize and was made to pay as Brest hit three goals in nine minutes.

Mahdi Camara extended Brest's lead and just five minutes later the match was as good as over as Sima added his second. Substitute Mathias Pereira Lage wrapped up the victory within seconds of entering the fray.

Stefan Bajcetic was among the Salzburg substitutes
Stefan Bajcetic was among the Salzburg substitutes

Next up in the Champions League for Lijnders and Salzburg is the visit of Dinamo Zagreb in a match they will need to take points from ahead of a daunting run. That clash is followed by trips to Feyenood, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, alongside home ties against Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.

Bajcetic meanwhile will be eager to win back his place when domestic action returns this weekend. He has been a regular in Salzburg's side before dropping to the bench for the Champions League encounter.

He was linked with a number of sides when it became clear he was available for a loan move, with reports in Spain suggesting Barcelona was keen on signing him. But he agreed to move to Austria to link up with Lijnders again, with the ex-Liverpool No.2 playing a key role in his early development.