Riga FC vs Ararat-Armenia - prediction, team news, lineups

Riga FC volition invited Ararat-Armenia to Skonto Stadium connected Tuesday, needing to overturn a two-goal shortage successful the 2nd limb of their Champions League first circular qualifier.

The Latvian champions could marque it 4 wins from 5 games successful midweek, but they are facing an uphill conflict to advancement against the Armenian rubric holders.

Match preview

Adrian Gula's Riga are a regular show successful the qualifying rounds of UEFA competitions, but the nine person not featured successful the qualifiers for the Champions League since 2021-22, erstwhile they were beaten 2-0 by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

In 2025-26, the Latvians came adjacent to reaching the league signifier of the Conference League, lone to autumn abbreviated successful a 2-1 aggregate decision against Sparta Prague successful the last playoff.

That decision volition beryllium astatine the beforehand of Gula's mind, fixed that his squad were downed 2-0 successful the distant limb and were incapable to rescue the necktie contempt winning 1-0 at Skonto Stadium successful the instrumentality fixture.

The aforesaid concern has played retired truthful acold this clip around, with Riga uncovering themselves 2 goals down from the archetypal limb and needing a insignificant occurrence to debar being knockout retired of the Champions League process.

To marque matters worse, goalkeeper Frenks Davids Orols was shown a consecutive reddish paper for a handball with little than 20 minutes to play successful the 2nd fractional of past week's clash, and volition not beryllium disposable connected Tuesday arsenic a result.

However, fans of the hosts volition instrumentality bosom from the information that their squad are unbeaten astatine location successful 2026, and considering the deficit, seeing Gula's men triumph 3 of their past 5 astatine Skonto Stadium by a borderline of astatine slightest 3 goals volition springiness supporters a consciousness of cautious optimism.

Meanwhile, Tulipa's Ararat-Armenia are successful power of this necktie having won 2-0 successful the archetypal leg, but it remains to beryllium seen whether they tin clasp retired connected the road.

The Armenian broadside person ne'er reached the 2nd circular of the Champions League qualifiers, having narrowly mislaid 1-0 to Omonia Nicosia aft other clip during their astir caller effort backmost successful 2020-21.

Goals from Hugo Oliveira and Franca Carlos successful the archetypal limb person enactment Tulipa's men conscionable ninety minutes distant from a historical first, and having mislaid conscionable 1 of their past 11 outings, the squad volition beryllium assured of progressing.

Adding to that consciousness of committedness is the information that the visitors person won 5 of their six astir caller clashes distant from home, drafting conscionable erstwhile during that agelong - 0-0 against Noah successful April.

Riga FC Champions League form:

Riga FC signifier (all competitions):

Ararat-Armenia Champions League form:

Ararat-Armenia friendlies form:

Team News

Riga are missing goalkeeper Frenks Orols aft helium was sent disconnected successful the archetypal leg, truthful expect to see Krisjanis Zviedris enactment up betwixt the sticks connected Tuesday.

Karl Wassom and Baba Musah volition run astatine the bosom of Tulipa's defence, conscionable down a midfield 3 of Ahmed Ankrah, Raivis Jurkovskis and Orlando Galo.

Striker Mohamed Badamosi should pb the enactment erstwhile again, aided successful onslaught by Salah Oulad M'Hand and Raki Aouani.

As for Ararat-Armenia, they could start Bruno Wilson Valdez astatine centre-back alongside Junior Julio connected Tuesday, aft helium came connected for Alexandros Malis conscionable earlier fractional clip successful the archetypal leg.

Kamo Hovhannisyan and Edgar Grigoryan are acceptable to flank the duo from full-back, providing attacking enactment for wingers Artur Serobyan and Zhirayr Shaghoyan.

Riga FC imaginable starting lineup:

Zviedris; Eduardo, Wassom, Musah, Salazar; Jurkovskis, Ankrah, Galo; Oulad M'Hand, Aouani; Badamosi

Ararat-Armenia imaginable starting lineup:

Joao Bravo; Hovhannisyan, Julio, Valdez, Grigoryan; Oliveira, Alwyn, Muradyan; Serobyan, Sandro Lima, Shaghoyan

We say: Riga FC 1-1 Ararat-Armenia

Riga endured a akin concern successful 2025-26, and were incapable to flooded a two-goal shortage successful their playoff 2nd limb past term.

That decision volition beryllium weighing connected the team, but they volition beryllium competitory and present a spirited performance, truthful bash not expect to spot a elemental triumph for Ararat-Armenia.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.