RFS will welcome Santa Coloma to Latvia for the second leg of their Europa League third round qualifier on Wednesday, 14 August.
In the first leg, RFS ran out as comfortable 2-0 winners away from home which has put them in a commanding position ahead of kick-off on Wednesday evening. Santa Coloma will need to produce something truly special if they are to progress through to the playoff round.
As part of our latest round of Europa League betting tips, here is our RFS vs Santa Coloma prediction.
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RFS vs Santa Coloma prediction: The hosts to complete the tie in style
Key stats
- Santa Coloma have won just one of their last nine matches inside 90 minutes.
- RFS have won ten of their last twelve matches in all competitions.
- A total of 20 goals have been scored across RFS' last five matches.
Correct score prediction: RFS 3-0 Santa Coloma
These two teams come into this match in contrasting form with RFS flying and Santa Coloma badly struggling. The hosts have not only won ten of their last twelve matches, but they have scored 3+ goals in three of their last five matches. Santa Coloma have been shipping goals for fun, conceding six goals without reply across their last outings.
Pre-game odds and win probability: The hosts are expected to put Santa Coloma to the sword
- Home: 2/9 (1.22) – 81.8%
- Draw: 11/2 (6.50) – 15.4%
- Away: 11/1 (12.0) – 8.3%
The RFS vs Santa Coloma odds indicate that this will be as one-sided as we are predicting. With Ladbrokes, Santa Caloma have been given just an 8.3% chance of winning, which seems fair when you consider their recent form. RFS have been given an 81.8% of winning while there is a 15.4% chance of the match finishing as a draw.
For more football predictions for upcoming matches, check out our free betting tips for today page.
Most recent H2Hs: A second encounter
This is only the second time in history that RFS and Santa Coloma have faced each other in competitive action with the first encounter coming last week in the first leg.
Their lack of action against each other isn't a shock given Santa Coloma have never made it this far before in European qualifying. RFS, meanwhile, are more accustomed to this level with their best result in Europe coming in 2022 when they made it to the group stages of the Europa Conference League.
RFS preview: 90 minutes away from a guaranteed spot in the UECL
RFS enjoyed themselves in the Europa Conference League group stages back in 2022/23 and anything other than a 2+ goal loss here will earn them another shot at it, at the very least. Their domestic form has been excellent, and they look set to win another league title, so there is no reason for them not to put everything into this European adventure.
Predicted lineup: Ondoa (GK), Savalnieks, Prenga, Lipuscek, Mares, Markhiyev, Panic, Ikaunieks, Osuagwu, Kouadio, Diomande
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 29/08/24
W
Apoel Nicosia
2
Rigas FS
1
Latvia Virsliga 25/08/24
D
Riga FC
0
Rigas FS
0
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 22/08/24
W
Apoel Nicosia
1
Rigas FS
2
Latvia Cup 17/08/24
W
Valmiera FC
3
Rigas FS
4
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 14/08/24
W
UE Santa Coloma
0
Rigas FS
7
Santa Coloma preview: Looking to keep it respectable
Having already beaten their previous best in Europe, Santa Coloma should be proud of what they have accomplished in qualifying. They will still have a Europa Conference League playoff to look forward to on the back of this so the last thing they want is to suffer a heavy defeat.
Predicted lineup: Ruiz (GK), Dacu, Garcia, Chete, Blasco, Lopez, Jorge, Mohedano, Gomez, Virgili, Martinez
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 29/08/24
D
Vikingur Reykjavik
0
UE Santa Coloma
0
UEFA Conference League Qualifying 22/08/24
L
Vikingur Reykjavik
5
UE Santa Coloma
0
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 14/08/24
L
Rigas FS
7
UE Santa Coloma
0
UEFA Europa League Qualifying 08/08/24
L
Rigas FS
2
UE Santa Coloma
0
UEFA Champions League Qualifying 31/07/24
L
Midtjylland
1
UE Santa Coloma
0
Player to watch: Ismael Diomande
Ismael Diomande has traditionally been a midfielder in his early career but he has been operating across the forward line for RFS this season to great effect. The 20-year-old has scored 12 goals in all competitions for the club so far this season and he has attracted attention from scouts across Europe.
Diomande provided an assist in the first leg and he found himself back on the scoresheet at the weekend in RFS' league match against Grobina on Sunday. He will once again be a huge threat on Wednesday evening.
