Brother against brother on 14 February at the Red Bull Arena.

The Red Bulls are to complete their Huelva training camp on Saturday and return to Salzburg. They then have another week of training before contesting their final friendly match of the winter break, at 2:30 pm on 14 February in the Red Bull Arena. 

The Austrian league leaders are to meet the Croatian league leaders and champions as Red Bull Salzburg host Dynamo Zagreb. 

It is just a friendly match but there is already intense excitement considering the calibre of the opponents. 

Nowhere is the anticipation being felt more keenly than in the Kovac family, with brothers Niko and Robert Kovac to line up against each other. 

34-year-old Robert Kovac, capped 80 times for Croatia, recently completed a transfer from Bayer Leverkusen to Dynamo Zagreb. In doing so he adds the Croatian champions to a list of employers that also includes Bayern Munich, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. 

Niko Kovac: “Of course it is more than a friendly match for both of us. We played alongside each other for a long time in Germany – and against each other too. I’ve never beaten him when we have played on opposite sides but now is the time to do that at the Red Bull Arena!”  

The Kovac brothers played together for three years at Bayer Leverkusen, spent two years at Bayern Munich and have both been part of the Croatian national team for ten years. 

Niko Kovac has never won a battle of the brothers, whether playing for Nuremberg v Hertha Berlin or for Hamburg v Leverkusen or indeed for Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich. 

“It’s definitely time to settle that score...” declared a smirking Niko. 

Entry into the Red Bull Arena for this high-profile match is FREE for all season ticket (Abocard) holders!  

Others can enjoy this eagerly awaited clash for a moderate sum: 

Full price:   € 10,--

Concessions:  €   7,--

Children:  €   2,-- 

Tickets will allow a free choice of seats in the West, South and North stands.