- Jablonec have won three of their last five matches.
- Rigas Futbola Skola have won four of their last five.
- Rigas Futbola Skola are unbeaten in their last five away (W4, D1).
Jablonec and RFS have momentum to spare
Jablonec are odds-on favourites for Thursday's UEFA Conference League Qualification 2026 fixture against Riga-based underdogs Rigas Futbola Skola, but the visitors may not be as far behind the curve as the odds suggest.
The bookmakers are of the opinion that the Czech club are clear favorites at 1.5, while the Latvian league's top side are 6.3 away to snatch a result. In between the two, the draw is 4.1 and that could be a better option, although our selection is a Jablonec win.
Lubos Kozel has Jablonec set up in a three-at-the-back system with wing-backs, allowing them to be quite aggressive in the right set up and they have hit a decent spell of form coming into this UEFA Conference League fixture. The hosts have won two in a row in Sigma Olomouc and NK Varazdin, which has lifted them to three wins and two defeats in their last five games.
But Riga's form is even better, with four wins and one draw in the last five, including a 4-1 win over IF Vestri at home and 1-0 success at Tukums 2000. Viktors Morozs has the Latvian side organized in a back four system and streetwise enough to be compact and pragmatic, which should suit them in this European knockout encounter.
Tactical clash of styles will focus on wide areas
Kozel will want his men to control the ball, overload the flanks and squeeze chances from set-pieces, while Morozs will have Rigas sitting compact and breaking vertically. We think the tactical clash will make the wings and dead balls the most important areas for both sides to play, which is why BTTS seems a great alternative to the result markets at 1.85.
Jablonec have scored nine goals in their last six home games and have won three, drawn one and lost two of their six home fixtures in all competitions, so we think they have enough punch to get the win. But Rigas are tough away from home and know how to get results in Europe, so we doubt it will be as easy as the bookmakers suggest for the home side.
