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Riga host Slask Wroclaw at the Skonto Stadium in Latvia on Wednesday for the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round. This is Riga's fourth consecutive attempt at reaching the competition's group stages, and will be hoping to make it this time.
Simo Valakari's side reached here with a second-place finish in the Virslīga, which is the Latvian Higher League, last year.
In fact, they lost the top-flight title by just a point, as the RFS were crowned winners of the division by the narrowest of margins.
Speaking of their rivals, Slask Wroclaw have seen some action in major tournaments before, although their last taste of it came back in 1987-88 season. Back then, the Polish outfit had qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup, but went out in the first round following a 2-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.
Since then, the Militarians have endured a series of heartbreaks in the qualifiers, including thrice in the playoffs stage. But the two-time Ekstraklasa champions will be hoping to break the jinx in 2024.
Riga vs Slask Wroclaw Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- The sides are meeting for the first time in their history
- Riga have lost just one of their last home games in the European qualifiers, although that defeat came in their most recent outing: 3-0 vs Twente in the third qualifying round of the 2023-24 Europa Conference League
- The Militarians have won just three of their last 10 away games in the European qualifiers
- Riga have progressed from the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League on each of their previous three attempts
- Their rivals from Poland are playing in Europe again following a gap of three years
Riga vs Slask Wroclaw Prediction
Riga come in as favorites owing to more experience in the qualifiers, and their good record at home. The Latvian side are no big hitters, but have enough in the tank to see of their Polish rivals.
Prediction: Riga 2-0 Slask Wroclaw
Riga vs Slask Wroclaw Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Riga
Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Under 2.5
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: No
