Riga and Celtic get a break from their league challenge to fight for a possible trophy in this Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round fixture.
Riga have less rest than Celtic in this fixture, as the hosts were involved in a Virsliga game only four days ago. This match was also played here at Stadions Skonto. With two consecutive home games the intense schedule is somewhat softened. Still, Celtic have had more rest.
This stadium uses artifical turf, unlike Celtic's home stadium. The visitors last six games on artifical turf have ended in 5 wins, 1 draw and 0 losses.
It's quite the trip for Celtic when visiting Riga as the cities are 2900 kilometers apart.
Riga form and stats
This is not the first game this season in the Europa League for Riga, as the manager O. Kononov led his troops to eliminate Tre Fiori, and reach the 3rd Qualifying Round. Riga was eliminated in the play-offs last season in the Europa League.9-0-1 is the performance here at Stadions Skonto so far in the Virsliga, giving Riga a total of 27 from their 10 games here. Outstanding results!
A nice win for Riga last time playing, versus Valmiera / BSS. That was also a home game and the match ended 1-0 with Wesley Natã scoring for the victors. Previous to that game, a Europa League home match hosting Tre Fiori in a game that was won 1-0.
There will be little rest for Riga after this match as they are travelling to Spartaks Jurmala for a Virsliga game in only three days.
Goals decide football matches and Riga are scoring many of them at home; 23 on target from 10 league matches. From these home matches, Riga have conceded only 7 goals.
Celtic form and stats
They also participated in Europa League last season. This ended in the 16th finals.In general it has been a productive period now for Celtic as they haven't lost any of their last 17 games. Celtic are enjoying a nice run from their away games now, having played 14 in a row without losing.
Celtic go into this game after a win, the home game against Livingston that ended 3-2. Prior to that result Celtic won their away game at St. Mirren in the Premiership. The scoreline was 2-1.
A quick return to home after this game, as Celtic are hosting Hibernian in the Premiership only three days away.
Head 2 Head
Riga missing players
Celtic missing players
| Riga | Celtic | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 15 | 25 | ||
| 21 | 11 | Won | W | 8 | 16 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 5 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Lost | L | 2 | 4 | ||
| 55 | 26 | Scored | S | 29 | 63 | ||
| 18 | 8 | Conceded | C | 15 | 24 | ||
| 100% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | ||
| 80% | 75% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 87% | 92% | ||
| 52% | 42% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 60% | 72% | ||
| 28% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 48% | ||
| 16% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 13% | 28% | ||
| 44% | 33% | BTTS | BTTS | 60% | 56% | ||
| 48% | 58% | Clean Sheets | C S | 33% | 40% | ||
| 8% | 8% | Failed to Score | F T | 7% | 4% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2.4 | 2.2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.2 | 1.1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 285 | 153 | Total Shots | T S | 220 | 395 | ||
| 130 | 73 | Shots on Target | S O | 80 | 170 | ||
| 42% | 36% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 35% | 35% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Riga | 19 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 45 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 33 | 51 |
| 2 | Rigas FS | 19 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 51 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 8 | 35 | 47 |
| 3 | Valmiera / BSS | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 25 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 34 |
| 4 | Spartaks Jurmala | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 36 | 33 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 18 | 3 | 28 |
| 5 | Ventspils | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 5 | 27 |
| 6 | Liepaja | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 37 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 26 |
| 7 | FC Daugavpils / Progress | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 26 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 16 | -8 | 16 |
| 8 | Metta / LU | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 36 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 20 | -17 | 16 |
| 9 | Jelgava | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 40 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 20 | -26 | 15 |
| 10 | Tukums | 19 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 50 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 5 | 29 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 21 | -38 | 5 |