Hearts and Rīgas FS get a break from their league challenge to fight for a possible trophy in this Europa Conference League Group Stage fixture.
One slightly interesting match fact is that this game is played on grass and that the visiting Rīgas FS have a different surface at their stadium (artifical turf). The impact of this is hard to measure exactly, but the visitors stats on grass is 11-4-4 (win-draw-loss) from 19 matches.
These teams have little in common geographically as Rīgas FS have to travel 2900 kilometers to reach their opponents. The trip home will be especially long if the match ends in defeat.
There has not been much time to rest for the guests, as they played a Virsliga game only four days ago. That game, against Super Nova, was also an away game. It's a tiring schedule for Rīgas FS.
Hearts form and stats
Hearts are steadily winning Europa Conference League games and points here at Tynecastle Park. 11 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats is the summary from 14 games. On the other hand, in the Europa Conference League, Hearts has performed like this (both home and away): 1 win, 0 draws and 3 losses.
Hearts experienced a slightly shocking loss 3-4 against Celtic in their previous match, also a home game. As you can tell by the result above, the goals flowed freely in the previous game and the stadium rocked. Could there be another goal fest today? Incredibly enough, Shankland scored three goals against Celtic but the team still lost everything as their opponents won 3-4. Shankland, a striker, was the best performer for the team in that game, scoring a rating of 8.83 (out of 10). Shankland scored three goals.
A Premiership defeat was the result before that one, 0-2 away at Aberdeen.The hosts are favourites to win this game, with an estimated chance of about 55-60% of that outcome. Earlier Hearts matches with similar probabilities have ended with 5 wins, 1 draw and 0 defeats (from 6 games).
There will be little rest for Hearts after this match as they are travelling to Ross County for a Premiership game in only three days.
It's goals goals goals for Hearts who have scored 44 goals from 14 league home games. Hearts have conceded 16 in these home matches.
Rīgas FS form and stats
Rīgas FS's mission in Europa Conference League last season failed in the 3rd qualifying round against Gent.Rīgas FS's travelling support has been rewarded for their time and money so far this season, having witnessed Rīgas FS collect 38 points from their 16 away matches in the Virsliga. 12 victories and 2 draws have created these points (and only 2 defeats). Total Europa Conference League statistics for Rīgas FS: 1 win, 5 draws and 2 losses.
Rīgas FS play their second away game in a row, but can be confident going into this one after the 4-0 victory visiting Super Nova. As you can tell from the results above, Rīgas was very dominant against Super Nova, winning the match with a scoreline that even the finest fortune teller couldn't predict. 4-0 (!) with Jagodinskis, Ilić, Jatta and Rakels providing the goals.
A defeat, in the Latvian Cup away at Auda, before that.
The schedule is very tough for Rīgas FS now as they have to travel again shortly after this match. A Virsliga game at Valmiera / BSS is waiting in only three days.
Rīgas create on average more than 2,5 goals per away game (in the league) all by themselves, having scored 42 goals in 16 travels. It's been trouble in front of goal recently, as only 2 of these goals has been scored in their last three away matches.
Head 2 Head
The latest recorded result involving both these participants is the Rīgas FS - Hearts 0-2 played not long ago this season.
Top Goalscorers
  A. Ilić 16 goals |  E. Santana Deocleciano 11 goals |  D. Rakels 9 goals |
Hearts missing players
Rīgas FS missing players
| Hearts | Rīgas FS | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 10 | 4 | Won | W | 7 | 11 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Drew | D | 3 | 10 | ||
| 12 | 6 | Lost | L | 2 | 4 | ||
| 45 | 16 | Scored | S | 24 | 50 | ||
| 42 | 24 | Conceded | C | 12 | 26 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 92% | ||
| 88% | 82% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 92% | 88% | ||
| 72% | 82% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 58% | 60% | ||
| 44% | 55% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 42% | 44% | ||
| 24% | 27% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 8% | 16% | ||
| 48% | 55% | BTTS | BTTS | 67% | 60% | ||
| 20% | 0% | Clean Sheets | C S | 17% | 28% | ||
| 32% | 45% | Failed to Score | F T | 17% | 20% | ||
| 3.8 | 4.2 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 6.8 | 7 | ||
| 4.7 | 4.6 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 5.8 | 4.8 | ||
| 2.1 | 1.3 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.7 | 2.4 | ||
| 5 | 3 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 2 | ||
| 10 | 12.6 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 12.6 | 10.9 | ||
| 3.8 | 4.7 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 5.6 | 5.4 | ||
| 33% | 29% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 36% | 37% | ||
| 13.9 | 14.4 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 11.2 | 8.5 | ||
| 4.8 | 5.7 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.6 | 3.2 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| 2 | Fiorentina | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Hearts | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | -9 | 3 |
| 4 | Rīgas FS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -5 | 2 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Hearts | 27 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 63 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 44 | 16 | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 19 | 8 | 39 | 57 |
| 2 | Dundee | 27 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 49 | 40 | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 23 | 9 | 45 |
| 3 | Raith Rovers | 27 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 45 | 36 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 18 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 21 | 18 | 9 | 43 |
| 4 | Dunfermline Athletic | 27 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 38 | 34 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 4 | 39 |
| 5 | Inverness CT | 27 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 36 | 31 | 13 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 18 | 5 | 36 |
| 6 | Queen of the South | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 24 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 27 | -13 | 32 |
| 7 | Arbroath | 27 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 28 | 34 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 23 | -6 | 30 |
| 8 | Ayr United | 27 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 31 | 37 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 25 | -6 | 29 |
| 9 | Greenock Morton | 27 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 22 | 33 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -11 | 29 |
| 10 | Alloa Athletic | 27 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 60 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 18 | 29 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 31 | -30 | 22 |
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Valmiera / BSS | 33 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 92 | 23 | 17 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 52 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 40 | 13 | 69 | 78 |
| 2 | Riga | 33 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 64 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 14 | 42 | 75 |
| 3 | Rīgas FS | 33 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 81 | 31 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 16 | 50 | 71 |
| 4 | Liepaja | 33 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 39 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 37 | 22 | 29 | 66 |
| 5 | Auda | 33 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 41 | 33 | 17 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 30 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 48 |
| 6 | Tukums | 33 | 11 | 5 | 17 | 36 | 61 | 16 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 28 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 33 | -25 | 38 |
| 7 | FC Daugavpils / Progress | 33 | 8 | 6 | 19 | 26 | 63 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 38 | -37 | 30 |
| 8 | Spartaks Jurmala | 33 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 32 | 74 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 19 | 40 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 34 | -42 | 22 |
| 9 | Metta / LU | 33 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 38 | 80 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 19 | 33 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 19 | 47 | -42 | 21 |
| 10 | Super Nova | 33 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 21 | 73 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 39 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 34 | -52 | 18 |
