Riga FC vs Slask Wroclaw Prediction 24.07.2024 | Conference League

• Competition: UEFA Europa Conference League Qualifying
• Date: Wednesday, 24th, July 2024
• Kickoff: 17:00 UK / 18.00 CEST
• Venue: Skonto stadions (Riga)

Both teams start their European campaigns on Wednesday as Riga FC and Slask meet at Skonto Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League second-round qualifier.

Riga FC held their title destiny in their hands and were on the verge of ending a four-year trophy drought in the Virsliga, but a 1-1 draw on the final matchday away at Valmiera dashed all their hopes, allowing RFS to overtake them and claim the national championship title. Finishing as runners-up has secured them a place in UEFA's third-tier competition for the fourth consecutive year, and Simo Valakari's men will be aiming to replicate the achievements of the last three campaigns when they effortlessly reached the third qualifying round.

A nearly identical situation to that of Saturday’s hosts befell Slask last season, as they were prevented from lifting their first Ekstraklasa title in 13 years due to an inferior head-to-head record compared to the eventual winners Jagiellonia. The new quest for glory in Poland's top flight didn’t start off well for the Wroclaw-based club, as they struggled to earn a point on opening day, salvaging a 1-1 draw with Lechia at home only with an equalizer in the second minute of stoppage tima.

Riga FC vs Slask Wroclaw Betting Tips: DRAW

True, the Latvian outfit arrives in better physical shape and with more momentum, but Riga’s recent opponents have been nowhere near the level of Slask, so we believe there is a real chance that this European contest might end in a draw. Simo Valakari's side has been in a scoring frenzy lately, finding the back of the net with ease, but it will be a challenge to see how their attacking prowess fares against a Slask team that ended the last league season with the best defensive record, conceding just 31 goals in 34 matches. 

Despite putting in significant effort, the Militarians have struggled to build momentum for their European battle, having fought tooth and nail to secure a last-minute equalizer in the curtain-raiser of the new Ekstraklasa season, which came after they finished their final warm-up match against Mlada Boleslav with the same 1-1 result. Overall, we expect both teams to adopt a cautious strategy and focus on defensive duties, leaving the question of the eventual winner to be decided in the return leg, as it seems both are prepared to settle for a draw in Latvia.