- Riga FC are on a red-hot 5-match unbeaten run with 4 wins and 1 draw.
- FC Ararat-Armenia are on a similar run of 5 matches with 4 wins and 1 defeat, although a 0-4 home defeat to FC Noah Artsakh remains a sore point.
- Riga FC's away record across all competitions is 3 wins and 1 draw from 4 matches.
Sensible Riga have the edge
Riga FC are a strong bet to take the lead in this UEFA Champions League qualification play-off on Tuesday, with the hosts not entirely out of form either.
Riga FC have been in exceptional form since Adrian Gula took charge on 14 January 2025, winning 8 and drawing 2 of their last 10 matches across all competitions. Their system, which is usually a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, is built to overwhelm teams in the wide areas and force them into errors high up the pitch by flooding the attacking third with numbers.
Mohamed Badamosi has been their star turn over the last 5 matches, scoring 4 of their 12 goals, so the ex-Birkenhead player will have the main responsibility to fire his team to a win in Armenia. The Latvians also have a very solid away record, winning 3 and drawing 1 in their last 4, and the 9 goals they have scored on the road is testament to the fact that Riga don't just go away to sit back.
FC Ararat-Armenia can make a game of it
FC Ararat-Armenia have shown a similar level of form to their opponents recently, with 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in their last 10 across all competitions. Tulipa has set the team up to be a pragmatic unit, but one that can spring into life on the counter attack and they usually have their players in a compact block and look to counter fast when they get the ball.
They have only scored 10 goals in their last 6 home games across all competitions, but that might be enough to nick a goal if they get the right amount of pressure on their opponents. But Riga FC are in better form and have a sharper edge to them in the final third, so the Latvian side should nick it.
Riga can edge it
This is going to be a tight UEFA Champions League qualifying scrap and the odds reflect that. Riga FC come in as the slight favorite at 2.34, with FC Ararat-Armenia at 2.68 and the draw at 3.43.
But we will take the Latvians to edge it on the night, with the main selection being Under 2.5 Goals at 1.81 and Both Teams to Score - No at 1.93.
