This evening at Skonto Stadium, Riga FC step onto the European stage for what could be one of the most important nights in the club’s history. The Latvian champions host Sparta Prague in the return leg of the UEFA Conference League playoff round, chasing a two-goal deficit from last week’s first encounter. Kick-off in Rīga is at 19:45, with the match shown live on TV4 and sportacentrs.com.
For fans who have followed the club’s European journey closely, the storyline feels familiar. Riga have reached the playoff stage before and tasted heartbreak. In the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League, they lost 1-3 away to Danish champions FC Copenhagen, conceding a late third goal. At home, in front of a sold-out Skonto Stadium, Riga came within touching distance of history.
Felipe Brisola’s strike lit up the night, and with the away-goals rule still in effect, one more finish would have taken Riga into the group stage. Deniss Rakels almost delivered it, but the tie slipped away 3-2 on aggregate. Four years on, the first act of the drama against Sparta mirrors that earlier chapter: an away setback, a late goal conceded, and the chance to write a different ending in front of their own fans.
Captain Antonijs Černomordijs has made it clear that the team will not approach this second leg with fear. “We know exactly what has to be done, and we’re ready,” he said on the eve of the match. “The supporters will give us extra strength – it’s different at home. We’ve shown before we can score multiple goals against strong opponents. Nobody in this squad is stepping onto the pitch just to play for pride – we’re going out there to win.”
Head coach Adrián Guľa has struck a similar note, stressing both realism and belief. He knows the quality of Sparta, but also the unpredictability of football, pointing to his time coaching Žilina, when they famously beat Athletic Bilbao just three days after Bilbao had won 4–0 against Barcelona, as proof that unlikely results can happen. “Last week was difficult, but at home it’s a new game, new energy. We know our strengths and we’ve beaten strong clubs before. If we give everything as a team, we can turn it around,” Guľa said.
Much of the contest is expected to hinge on set pieces, with Sparta having punished Riga from one in Prague. Guľa admitted this will be a decisive area but insisted his side are prepared. He also acknowledged the threat posed by Sparta’s Slovakian captain Lukáš Haraslín, but underlined that Riga must defend collectively rather than focus on one opponent. “They have quality across the attack,” he explained. “We have to defend as a unit and force them into uncomfortable positions.”
Riga were given an extra boost by the postponement of their domestic fixture, leaving the squad fresher after a demanding summer. Skonto Stadium is set to be packed, just as it was on that unforgettable night against Copenhagen. The situation is clear: Riga must score, and they must believe. The late heartbreak in Prague makes the task a daunting one, but also sets the stage for the kind of European drama that defines a club’s history. Whether this tie becomes another story of narrow defeat or the moment when Riga finally break into the league phase of the UEFA Conference League will be decided tonight.
