Riga FC and Kauno Žalgiris drawn together in Conference League phase

Riga FC and Kauno Žalgiris have learned their UEFA Conference League league-phase opponents after Friday’s draw in Monaco, with the two Baltic champions set to meet in one of the standout fixtures of the campaign.

For the first time, Latvia and Lithuania will both have clubs competing in the UEFA Conference League league phase at the same time, and the draw has immediately produced a exciting Baltic derby. Riga FC will travel to Kaunas to face Kauno Žalgiris at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium.

Riga FC were placed in Pot 5 for the draw, while Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris entered from Pot 6. From the top pot, both Baltic clubs were handed major opponents from Europe’s top leagues. Riga FC will welcome Italian side Atalanta to Skonto Stadium, while Kauno Žalgiris will host Bundesliga club Freiburg in Kaunas.

The second pot brought Riga FC an away trip to Cyprus against Pafos, while Kauno Žalgiris were handed one of the biggest matches in the club’s history – an away fixture against Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, one of the tournament’s main favourites.

From Pot 3, Riga FC were drawn away to Bosnia and Herzegovina, where they will face Borac Banja Luka, while Kauno Žalgiris will travel to Switzerland to meet Lugano.

Both Baltic clubs avoided Trabzonspor with Mohamed Salah from Pot 4, but still received difficult home fixtures. Riga FC will host Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, while Kauno Žalgiris will play Norwegian side Brann in Kaunas.

The most exciting draw from a Baltic perspective came from Pot 5, where Riga FC and Kauno Žalgiris were paired together. The match will be played in Kaunas, giving Lithuanian fans a historic home fixture against the Latvian champions. Riga FC were also handed a home match against Czech side Jablonec, who return to Rīga only a few months after eliminating RFS from the same competition.

Kauno Žalgiris’ final opponent from Pot 6 will be Albanian side Egnatia, with the Lithuanian champions travelling away for that fixture.

The full schedule, including dates and kick-off times, will be announced in the coming days. The opening round of the UEFA Conference League league phase is expected to take place on 15 October.