The 2026-27 Champions League run gets underway connected Tuesday, with Ararat-Armenia and Riga FC acceptable to fastener horns astatine Abovyan City Stadium successful the archetypal limb of their opening qualifying-round tie.
The Armenian champions volition beryllium anxious to found a steadfast vantage connected location ungraded against a Riga broadside that topped the Latvian league past season.
Match preview
Formed little than a decennary ago, the nine underwent a bid of sanction changes from FC Avan Academy to Ararat-Moskva earlier adopting their existent identity, Ararat-Armenia, pursuing promotion to the Armenian apical flight.
Managed by Manuel Tulipa, Ararat-Armenia were crowned Armenian Premier League champions past play aft collecting 60 points from 27 matches, finishing 4 wide of FC Noah.
It was their 3rd Premier League rubric and their archetypal successful six years, earning them a spot successful the opening qualifying circular of the Champions League.
The Armenian outfit won 18 league matches, suffered conscionable 3 defeats, scored 50 goals and conceded lone 25 arsenic they deservedly lifted the trophy.
In mentation for this contest, Ararat-Armenia played 2 pre-season friendlies against Mura and Vojvodina, drafting 1-1 connected some occasions.
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© Imago / IMAGO / CTK Photo
Like their opponents, Riga FC booked their spot successful the Champions League qualifiers aft lifting the Latvian league rubric past season.
Riga amassed 88 points from 36 matches to borderline retired RFS by a azygous constituent and assertion the Virsliga crown for the 4th clip successful the club's history.
The visitors whitethorn clasp a flimsy borderline heading into this tie, with the Latvian top-flight play already good underway. Having played much than fractional of their league fixtures, Gula's players should beryllium sharper successful presumption of lucifer fittingness than their Armenian counterparts.
The conflict for the Virsliga rubric is proving conscionable arsenic fierce this season, with Riga and RFS erstwhile again mounting the gait astatine the summit, though Gula's broadside presently way their rivals by a azygous point.
They are heading into the crippled connected the backmost of a 3-0 triumph implicit Jelgava, and person won 8 retired of their past 9 matches.
Ararat-Armenia Champions League form:
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Ararat-Armenia signifier (all competitions):
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Riga FC Champions League form:
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Riga FC signifier (all competitions):
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Team News
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© Imago / IMAGO / Romans Koksarovs
It has been a engaged summertime for Ararat-Armenia, who person seen left-back Hakob Hakobyan depart aft completing a determination to Alashkert FC.
Goalkeeper Bruno Pinto and centre-back Joao Queiros person besides near the nine pursuing the expiry of their respective contracts.
Ararat-Armenia person responded by bringing successful 5 players connected escaped transfers, with Maxence Carlier, Carlos Franca, Bruno Pereira, Luis Felipe and Sandro Lipa each successful contention to diagnostic successful this fixture.
Riga FC person maintained their awesome signifier this season, scoring 65 goals and conceding conscionable 19 successful 22 league matches portion keeping 9 cleanable sheets.
Among their standout performers has been midfielder Iago Siqueira Augusto, who has contributed six goals and 3 assists successful 16 league appearances.
Salah Oulad M'Hand has besides caught the oculus successful midfield, making a bid of important extremity contributions crossed 22 matches, and helium is expected to clasp his spot successful the starting lineup.
Ararat-Armenia imaginable starting lineup:
Bravim; Oliviera, Malis, Felipe, Pereira; Tera, Welton; Serobyan, Ambartsumyan, Shaghoyan; Lima
Riga FC imaginable starting lineup:
Orols; Salazar, Wassom, Cernomordijs, Jurkovskis; Ankrah, Oulad M'hand; Diop, Augusto, Aouani; Ramires
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We say: Ararat-Armenia 1-2 Riga FC
Riga caput into this necktie successful highest lucifer information and boast a singular 21-match unbeaten tally crossed each competitions.
Gula's broadside person besides led astatine fractional clip successful 8 of their past 9 matches. While Ararat-Armenia should supply a stern trial connected location soil, we expect the visitors to borderline a intimately contested archetypal limb and instrumentality a constrictive vantage backmost to Latvia.
For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.
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