- Team form: Riga FC have won 8 of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
- Opponents' form: FK Vardar Skopje have won 7 of their last 10 in all competitions, so they can get some joy in this one.
- Home record: Riga FC are unbeaten at home in all competitions this season, winning 5 out of 5.
Riga and Vardar have very different styles
Team style
A contrast of styles awaits at Skonto Stadium on Tuesday when Latvia's Riga FC take on FK Vardar Skopje from North Macedonia in a UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026 game that is difficult to call. Adrián Guľa has moulded Riga FC into a modern, possession-first side that have a structural 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 look, depending on the game plan. They play a proactive press when out of possession and have a number of good individual players, none better than the in-form Brazilian attacker Iago Siqueira.
Key player and betting odds
Siqueira is the only player on Riga's roster to score more than once in UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026 and already has 2 to his name from 1 game. Riga come into this contest in a serious favorite with the odds being 1.25, although the value does lie in the bet odds on the visitors at 7/1 and the tie at 5.0.
Riga’s rhythm is to play on the front foot
Riga FC have won their last 3 consecutive games, which includes a 3-1 home victory over Tukums 2000 in the Virsliga 2026 last weekend and a 3-2 away success against Vardar in this competition earlier today. In fact, Riga FC are in excellent form, winning 8 of their last 10 games in all competitions.
Cristian Fabbiani's Vardar set up is the polar opposite to Guľa's team as they play a direct 4-4-2 system designed to attack vertically with the ball, pair their two forwards, play physically and get men forward during transitions. In a contrast of style matchup like this, if Riga FC can keep their possession and avoid turnovers, it should suit their rhythm, but Vardar do have direct outlets, so it won't be a routine home win.
Vardar are capable of causing an upset
We like Riga to win this game, but Vardar have some momentum of their own and the value in the tie bet means we are going to play it safe in this match betting with a draw.
- FK Vardar are unbeaten in 4 away games across all competitions, having won 3 and drawn 1.
- They averaged 3.00 goals scored and 0.50 goals conceded per game away in all competitions, so they can travel to Latvia with bite and discipline.
- Vardar won their away UEFA Champions League Qualification 2026 match against Finnish side KuPS in 120 minutes 2-0, but they could easily get something out of this matchup.
