Preview: HJK Helsinki vs. Rigas Futbola Skola – prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s Champions League match between HJK Helsinki and Rigas Futbola Skola, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki welcome to the Latvian side Rigas Futbola Skola on Wednesday to Helsinki for the first leg of the first qualifying round the Champions League.
The home side lifted their 31st Veikkausliiga title last season, while RFS won last year’s Lavia Higher League to secure their place in the first qualifying round of the Champions League.
Match preview
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Helsinki is the most successful team in the history of Finnish football, having won the top division 31 times, including last year, which allowed them a place in the first qualifying round of the European Cup.
The club played in the European Conference League last season, but failed to reach the group stage and finished third in a division that included LASK, Alashkert and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Last season, Helsinki was eliminated in the second qualifying round of the Champions League and lost 4-3 to Malmö on aggregate, but nevertheless played in the group stage of the 1998-99 European Cup and finished fourth in Group F.
HJK are the only Finnish club to have participated in the group stage of the Champions League, and they should be in good form leading into this two-legged affair as they have already started the 2022 league season.
Indeed, Toni KoskelaThe team has played 14 league games this season and is currently in second place in the table, three points behind the leader KuPS. The top two will play to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
RFS, on the other hand, won their first ever Latvian Higher League title last year, finishing with 66 points from their 28 matches, allowing them to secure their place in this stage of the Champions League.
Viktors MorozsThe team’s squad was eliminated in the first qualifying round of both the 2019–20 and 2020–21 Europa League campaigns, but reached the third qualifying round of the 2021–22 Europa Conference League, eventually losing to Gent.
RFS are aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time, but they will face a tough test from an HJK outfit who will be looking to progress through this two-legged tie.
The visitors are also deep into their domestic league campaign and will enter this fixture on the back of a 4-0 win over BFC Daugavpils on June 30.
A total of 45 points from 20 games has left them in second place in the table, five points off the summit, and they will be looking to make it three straight wins in all competitions on Wednesday.
HJK Helsinki format (all competitions):
Rigas Futbola Skola format (all competitions):
Team news
Helsinki’s boss Koskela had to withdraw Atom Tanaka on Saturday in between their league clash with KuPS, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the striker misses out here.
This could result in a starting role Santeri Vaananenbut it might otherwise be the same XI that took to the field last time.
Santeri Hostikka expected to feature in the final third of the home side’s pitch, while should also be a second start David Browne.
Former Celtic goalkeeper Conor Hazard is also participating in this competition in Helsinki.
However, Rigas has not reported any further injury concerns for Daugavpils in the league on June 30, so it would not be a surprise to see a similar team take the field.
Head coach Morozs has to make a decision Denis RakelsHowever, the 29-year-old scored twice off the bench last time out and could now start.
Brazilian Emerson is also on the scoresheet for the team’s final match, with the number nine expected to feature in the final third of the away team’s pitch.
HJK Helsinki possible starting line-up:
Wrong; Raitala, Tenho, Murilo, Hoskonen; Peltola, Vaananen, Browne, Serrarens; Hostika, Olusanya
Rigas Futbola Skola’s possible starting line-up:
Steinbors; Jagodinskis, Sorokins, Lipuscek, Zjuzins; Saric, Mares, Panic, Rachels; Friesenbichler, Emerson
We say: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Rigas Futbola Skola
We expect Wednesday’s race to be tight, and the fact that Riga has had longer to recover may affect the outcome. Instead, we are tipping Helsinki to win in the evening and we also expect too much quality from them in two parts.
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Top tip
Our expert tip partner at Sportita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and more of their proven football tips.Home win: data