RFS vs KuPS

Fighting for a place in the Europa League‘s playoff round, Rigas Futbola Skola are set to face KuPS at LNK Sporta Parks on Wednesday for the first leg of their third qualifying round tie.

Both RFS and Keltamusta won their last domestic match but have been found out in European competition ahead of this clash.

Match preview

Viktors Morozs‘s RFS were entered into the Champions League’s first qualifying round after winning the 2024 Virsliga title, but while they beat Estonia’s Levadia Tallinn both home and away, they were knocked out by Swedish club Malmo in the second round.

Rigas were also eliminated from the top-tier competition’s process last season, but they eventually made the Europa League’s league phase, and they will be hoping to repeat history in 2025.

On Sunday, Morozs’s side got back to winning ways with a 3-2 triumph on the road against Latvian rival Grobina, marking the third time in their five most recent games that they have scored three or more goals.

Aside from their attacking prowess, the hosts will also draw confidence from their record at LNK Sporta Parks that features nine wins and just one defeat across their last 10 home matches

Victory on Wednesday would give RFS a lead to defend in the second leg, forcing their opponents to open up and take risks next week.

Meanwhile, Jarkko Wiss‘s KuPS won the 2024 Veikkausliga, earning a place in the Champions League’s first qualifying round in the process.

Though Keltamusta made it past Moldova’s Milsami Orhei with a 1-0 aggregate victory in the first round, they were eliminated by Kazakhstan Premier League club Kairat Almaty in the second, and the manager will be extremely disappointed that his team squandered their two-goal advantage by losing 3-0 in the second leg of that tie.

Returning to domestic action on Saturday, Wiss’s men beat Haka 3-2, and holding on to secure all three points in a tense final 15 minutes will have served as good preparation for the pressure of this week’s continental clash.

Hoping to take a positive result from Wednesday’s trip to Latvia, fans of the visitors will be cautiously optimistic given their side’s travelling record that includes only one defeat from their last five matches on the road, but considering that they won just once in that stretch, they would be pleased with a draw, 

Should KuPS progress from this tie, it would represent just the second time that the Finnish champions have ever reached the playoff round of a European competition, and reaching the Europa League’s league phase would be a club-first.

Rigas Futbola Skola form (all competitions):

KuPS form (all competitions):

RFS will be without midfielder Janis Ikaunieks this week as he serves a suspension after being sent off against Malmo, and 19-year-old Strahinja Rakic could take his place.

Up top, Tayrell Wouter and Davis Ikaunieks will be hoping to give their side a lead to protect next week, and the duo will be supported in attack by wing-backs Roberts Savalnieks and Mor Talla Gaye.

As for KuPS, Wiss will be relying on centre-backs Ibrahim Cisse and Samuli Miettinen to shield goalkeeper Aatu Hakala between the sticks, knowing that keeping the score level would be a major boost ahead of the home leg.

At the opposite end of the pitch, striker Mohamed Toure should be backed up by Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba and Petteri Pennanen out wide, with Otto Ruoppi operating just behind him in an attacking midfield role. 

Rigas Futbola Skola possible starting lineup:

Maric; Savalnieks, Nije, Veips, Lipucek, Gaye; Rakic, Panic, Zelenkovs; Wouter, D Ikaunieks

KuPS possible starting lineup:

Hakala; Savolainen, Cisse, Miettinen, Hamalainen; Oksanen, Arifi; Luyeye-Lutumba, Ruoppi, Pennanen; Toure

We say: Rigas Futbola Skola 2-1 KuPS

RFS may have been eliminated from the Champions League process, but their record at home remains strong, and they will be expecting another win on Wednesday.

That being said, KuPS have been resilient on the road in recent weeks, and they could keep the scoreline close, giving themselves a chance in the second leg.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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