Speaking before the first Big Riga Derby of Virslīga season 2025, RFS and Riga FC managers remained reserved and avoided disclosing almost anything in public.
The Big Riga Derby, along with the Tallinn Derby, is one of the most anticipated clashes in the Baltic association football calendar. This Saturday, defending Champions and table leaders RFS will host in-form Riga FC at the LNK Sporta Parks as Riga FC will attempt to narrow the 6-point gap to their arch-rivals. Speaking after their respective matches prior to the big showdown, both managers shared their thoughts about the upcoming game.
Speaking after the 1-2 win over SK Super Nova, RFS head coach Viktors Morozs was characteristicly laconic:
We were not thinking about that game in advance. It was important to win here [against Super Nova] and to take the three points. We will start preparing on the natural grass from next training, which is when we will start preparing for Riga.
His opponent, Riga FC manager Adrian Gul’a, was similarly reserved in his comments:
The profile of this game is different and we need to find a way to block the opponent and find a way how to win. Last time, we were good at pressing and at attacking but I think the next game will be different because it will be on natural grass and it is a league game, not a cup game, so the profile and character of the match will be different.
While both coaches avoid saying much, the atmosphere of tension and anticipation is building for what promises to be a fiercely contested match where have much to lose and everything to prove, having started their season poorly but picked up pace recently. This will be the 44th Big Riga Derby, with RFS having the upper hand of 16 wins, 16 draws, 11 losses and a +11 goal difference.
Kickoff is at 18:00 Riga time on Saturday, 26th April with international broadcasts via the OneFootball app.