Riga FC go welcome Ararat-Armenia for Skonto Stadium on Tuesday, as dem dey try to overturn two-goal deficit from first leg for Champions League first round qualifier.
Di Latvian champions don land for tight corner, but dem come into dis clash wit strong form, winning three of dia last four games.
Adrian Gula men don dey regular for UEFA qualifiers, but di club no don feature for Champions League qualifiers since 2021-22, when Maccabi Tel Aviv beat dem 2-0.
For 2025-26, di Latvians nearly reach di league phase of Conference League, only to fall short for 2-1 aggregate defeat against Sparta Prague for final playoff.
Dat defeat go dey for Gula mind, because im team lose 2-0 for away leg, and dem no fit rescue di tie even after winning 1-0 for Skonto Stadium for return leg.
Di same situation don play out dis time, wit Riga two goals behind from first leg, needing miracle to avoid elimination.
To make mata worse, goalkeeper Frenks Davids Orols collect straight red card for handball less dan 20 minutes to play for second half of last week clash, and im no go dey available on Tuesday.
But fans of di hosts fit take heart because dia team no don lose at home for 2026, and given di deficit, seeing Gula men win three of dia last five for Skonto Stadium by at least three goals go give supporters cautious optimism.
Meanwhile, Tulipa Ararat-Armenia dey in control after winning 2-0 for first leg, but e remain to see weda dem fit hold out on di road.
Di Armenian side never reach second round of Champions League qualifiers, narrowly losing 1-0 to Omonia Nicosia for extra time during dia most recent attempt for 2020-21.
However, goals from Hugo Oliveira and Franca Carlos don put Tulipa men just ninety minutes away from historic first for dis tie, and having lost only one of dia last 11 outings, di team go dey confident of progressing.
Ararat-Armenia go also feel say dem dey more dan capable of defending dia lead, because dem don concede more dan two goals for single game on just one occasion since August 2025 Conference League qualifying defeat against Sparta Prague.
Adding to dat hope na di fact dat di visitors don win five of dia six most recent clashes away from home, drawing just once during dat stretch – 0-0 against Noah for April.
Riga dey miss goalkeeper Frenks Orols after im sent off for first leg, so expect to see Krisjanis Zviedris line up between di sticks on Tuesday.
Di shot-stopper go dey shielded by Karl Wassom and Baba Musah for heart of Tulipa defence, just behind midfield three of Ahmed Ankrah, Raivis Jurkovskis and Orlando Galo.
Striker Mohamed Badamosi should lead di line once again, aided for attack by Salah Oulad M’Hand and Raki Aouani.
As for Ararat-Armenia, dem fit start Bruno Wilson Valdez for centre-back alongside Junior Julio on Tuesday, after im come on for Alexandros Malis just before half time for first leg.
Kamo Hovhannisyan and Edgar Grigoryan dey set to flank di duo from full-back, providing attacking support for wingers Artur Serobyan and Zhirayr Shaghoyan.
Riga endure similar situation for 2025-26, and dem no fit overcome two-goal deficit for dia playoff second leg last term.
Dat defeat go dey weigh on di team, but dem should dey competitive and deliver spirited performance, so no expect to see simple win for Ararat-Armenia.
