The 2014–15 FC Red Bull Salzburg season was the 82nd season in club history. Red Bull Salzburg finished the season as champions of the Bundesliga and the ÖFB-Cup for the second season in a row. In Europe, Salzburg where knocked out of the Champions League by Malmö in the playoff round, dropping into the Europa League where they reached the round of 32 before defeat to Villarreal. Season events Red Bull Salzburg come into the 2014–15 season as league and cup champions. Peter Ankersen and Benno Schmitz transferred to Red Bull Salzburg. Florian Klein and Marco Meilinger left the club. Eddie Gustafsson retired at the end of the 2013–14 season. Roger Schmidt left the club to become the head coach at Bayer Leverkusen. Adi Hütter was named Schmidt's replacement. Pre–season started on 16 June. Nils Quaschner was sold during the January transfer window. However, FIFA didn't allow the transfer because he had played for two teams during the season. He had also played for FC Liefering. FIFA transfer rules don't allow player to player for more than two teams during a season. Bundesliga Matchdays 1–9 on 19 July, in the opening match of the league season, Red Bull Salzburg defeated Rapid Wien 6–1 with two goals from Jonathan Soriano and a goal each from Andreas Ulmer, Alan, Sadio Mané, and Kevin Kampl. Steffen Hofmann scored for Rapid Wien. Red Bull took a 2–0 first–half lead with a 30th-minute goal from Andreas Ulmer and a 40th-minute goal from Alan. Red Bull scored four more goals in the second–half with a 69th-minute goal from Sadio Mané, a 77th minute and 79th-minute goals from Jonathan Soriano, and an 85th-minute goal from Kevin Kampl. Steffen Hofmann scored for Rapid Wien from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Red Bull finished the opening round in first place. On 26 July, on matchday two, Red Bull defeated Wiener Neustadt 5–0 with two goals from Jonathan Soriano and a goal each from Marcel Sabitzer, Christian Schwegler, Kevin Kampl, and André Ramalho Silva. Marcel Sabitzer opened the scored in the 15th minute which gave Red Bull a 1–0 half–time lead. Then in the 47th minute, Jonathan Soriano scored his first goal of the match. Christian Schwegler and Kevin Kampl added to the lead in the 53rd and 55th minutes. Jonathan Soriano finished the scoring with a goal from the penalty spot in the 75th minute. Red Bull's Sadio