Europe - Champions League
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by Ian John | in Champions League Predictions
Great news football fans! The Champions League is back! Our first prediction of the new 2024/25 season involves Latvian Champions Rigas Futbola Skola (FK RFS) hosting Northern Irish side Larne in the first qualifying round. The Inver Reds claimed the Northern Irish league title last season for the second time in a row to qualify for European football’s elite competition, where they begin with a trip to the Latvian capital.
FK RFS was only founded in 2016 but has claimed the Latvian title twice, in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 they became only the second Latvian team to qualify for the Group Stages of a European competition. They are also currently at the top of the Virsliga Table, with 56 points from 22 games, seven ahead of city rivals Riga in second place, and they have won eleven of their last twelve games, drawing the other. They also average over three goals scored per game, netting 68 goals so far in their league campaign.
It took Larne 133 years to win their first Northern Irish League title in 2022/23, but their second came in the following season, giving them another shot at the Champions League. Owner Kenny Bruce’s investment in the club has paid off domestically and they have another chance to progress into the second round here.
Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt will await the winners of the two-legged tie, with the second leg of this match taking place at Inver Park on the 17th July. One of FK RFS or Larne will break new ground in reaching qualifying R2, both having lost their previous Champions League Qualifying R1 fixture, ironically against the same opponent. That was HJK Helsinki, who beat FK RFS 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in 2022/23 and then beat Larne 3-2 at the same stage of last year’s competition.
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FK RFS vs Larne FC Form
FK RFS and Larne FC Last Matches
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
5 Jul 2024 - Virsliga
1 Jul 2024 - Virsliga
26 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
21 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
16 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
2 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
5 Jul 2024 - Virsliga
26 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
16 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
2 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
20 May 2024 - Virsliga
10 May 2024 - Virsliga
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
1 Jul 2024 - Virsliga
21 Jun 2024 - Virsliga
29 May 2024 - Virsliga
25 May 2024 - Virsliga
15 May 2024 - Virsliga
5 May 2024 - Virsliga
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
5 Jul 2024 - NIFL Charity Shield
22 Jun 2024 - Clubs Friendlies
27 Apr 2024 - Premiership
22 Apr 2024 - Premiership
16 Apr 2024 - Premiership
13 Apr 2024 - Premiership
5/6 (83%)
0/6 (0%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
5 Jul 2024 - NIFL Charity Shield
27 Apr 2024 - Premiership
13 Apr 2024 - Premiership
6 Apr 2024 - Premiership
16 Mar 2024 - Premiership
2 Mar 2024 - Irish Cup
2/6 (33%)
3/6 (50%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
22 Jun 2024 - Clubs Friendlies
22 Apr 2024 - Premiership
16 Apr 2024 - Premiership
2 Apr 2024 - Premiership
30 Mar 2024 - Irish Cup
9 Mar 2024 - Premiership
Players list
F. Ondoa
DefenderD. Balodis
H. Prenga
Z. Lipuscek
MidfielderS. Panic
E. Deocleciano
M. Kigurs
P. Mares
A. Markhiyev
J. Ikaunieks
ForwardI. Diomande
R. Ferguson
DefenderL. Ives
B. Altintop
C. Bolger
A. Donnelly
T. Cosgrove
MidfielderC. Gallagher
D. Sloan
ForwardC. McKendry
A. Ryan
L. Bonis
Substitutes
S. Vilkovs
P. Steinbors
DefenderD. Cucurs
MidfielderH. Njie
G. Zaleiko
L. Odisharia
ForwardD. Lemajic
C. Kouadio
D. Savic
R. Ndjiki
D. Graham
DefenderS. Brown
S. Graham
M. Glynn
MidfielderJ. Thomson
O. Devlin
ForwardM. Lusty
P. O'Neill
Most goals and assists
FK RFS
Larne FC
Z. Lipuscek
(1 Goals)
, 
J. Ikaunieks
(1 Goals)
, 
L. Odisharia
(1 Goals)
,
R. Savalnieks
(1 Goals)
, 
A. Markhiyev
(1 Goals)
C. Gallagher
(1 Goals)
,
T. Cosgrove
(1 Goals)
J. Ikaunieks
(1 Assists)
, 
S. Panic
(1 Assists)
J. Thomson
(1 Assists)
,
S. Graham
(1 Assists)
FK RFS - Larne FC Key Points
- FK RFS average over three goals per game in the Latvian league.
- Larne averaged over two goals per game scored in the Northern Irish league last season.
- RFS won its only previous tie against Northern Irish opposition (v Linfield in 2022).
- RFS are ranked 171st in the UEFA Club Rankings, Larne are 285th.
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Our FK RFS vs Larne FC Prediction
Our Rigas Futbola Skola vs. Larne Prediction is: Rigas Futbola Skola to win and over 2.5 goals to be scored.
There are a number of factors to consider here, but key amongst them is that this will be Larne’s first game of the new season, while FK RFS are over the midway point of their domestic season in Latvia. As such, the home side will be match-fit and battle-hardened compared to their Northern Irish opponents.
SK RFS also had a better result against the same opponent (HJK Helsinki) and has beaten a Northern Irish team previously (Linfield) in Europe.
Both teams score plenty of goals, so the data supports teaming up the FK RFS win with over 2.5 Goals.
Prediction :
FK Rigas Futbola Skola to win and over 2.5 goals to be scored.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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