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A place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League will be at stake when Riga welcome Ararat-Armenia to Skonto Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts will have their work cut out for them after a defeat in the first leg leaves them with a two-goal deficit to overturn.
Ararat-Armenia, on the other hand, are on course to advance past the Champions League’s first qualifying round for the first time in history.
Read our Riga vs Ararat-Armenia prediction, preview and betting tips below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Riga vs Ararat-Armenia key stats
- Ararat-Armenia are currently on a five-match unbeaten run.
- Riga have not lost a home game since November 2025.
- Ararat-Armenia’s last four outings have all gone below the 2.5-goal threshold.
Riga vs Ararat-Armenia preview: Can the hosts make history?
Riga vs Ararat-Armenia — Tale of the Tape
| Riga | vs | Ararat-Armenia |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd (Latvian Virsliga) | Position | N/A (Armenian Premier League) |
| 55 | Points | N/A |
| 65 | Goals For | N/A |
| 19 | Goals Against | N/A |
| 10 | Clean Sheets | N/A |
| 1st | Home / Away Rank | N/A |
Riga's struggles in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League continued with a 2-0 defeat against Ararat-Armenia in the first leg of this tie last week. Not only have the hosts never gotten past the first qualifying round of this competition, but they are also still hunting for their first-ever win.
The closest the Latvian side ever came to reaching the second qualifying round was in their first-ever attempt, when they lost to Dundalk in a penalty shootout during the 2019/20 campaign. They have fared better in other competitions, notably reaching the playoff round of the UEFA Conference League last season.
Coach Adrian Gula will have to do without captain Antonijs Cernomordijs, who has a lingering muscular problem, and Renars Varslavans, who has been sidelined for months due to cruciate ligament surgery.
Also, first-choice goalkeeper Frenks Orols is suspended for handling the ball outside the area during the first leg last week. He will be replaced by Krisjanis Zviedris as the hosts try to overturn a two-goal deficit in a continental tie for the first time.
Like their opponents, Ararat-Armenia have never gotten past the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. To be fair, the club was founded only nine years ago, and this is their third attempt.
Manuel Tulipa’s troops head into this encounter with a two-goal advantage. They are currently on a five-match unbeaten run and have not lost an away game in three months.
Alexandros Malis is a major doubt for this game after the Greek centre-back was forced off with an injury in the first leg.
It is worth mentioning that neither team has ever reached the group phase of a UEFA club competition. The winner of this tie will face either Floriana or Shamrock Rovers in the second qualifying round.
Riga vs Ararat-Armenia form guide & betting tips
| Riga | vs | Ararat-Armenia |
|---|---|---|
L
|
Champions League Qualification Form |
W
|
| 8 | Goals For | 8 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 4 |
D
W
W
L
W
|
Form (All Comps) |
W
W
D
D
W
|
Whispers Predicts: Riga 1-1 Ararat-Armenia
At 39/50 (1.78), Riga are considered favourites by the bookmakers ahead of this encounter. However, the hosts have never won a UEFA Champions League qualifying match, while Ararat-Armenia are unbeaten in their last seven away outings across all competitions.
Interestingly, Riga have only ever played two Champions League qualifying games at home, and both ended in stalemates. Keeping that in mind, we believe that these teams will be level after 90 minutes.
Moreover, fewer than three goals were scored in each of Ararat-Armenia's last four fixtures, and under 2.5 total goals can be backed at 19/20 (1.95).
We also fancy a 1-1 correct score at 57/10 (6.70). This landed in two of Ararat-Armenia's last three matches across all competitions.
> Under 2.5 total goals at 19/20 (1.95) | Likelihood: Probable
> BTTS – Yes at 5/6 (1.83) | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result: Draw at 14/5 (3.80) | Likelihood: Possible
> Draw & BTTS – Yes at 19/5 (4.80) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct Score: 1-1 at 57/10 (6.70) | Likelihood: Outsider