Preview: Riga FC vs Ararat-Armenia – prediction, team news, lineup

Riga FC will host Ararat-Armenia at Skonto Stadium on Tuesday, needing to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their match. Champions League first round of qualifying.

The Latvian champions may have made it four wins from five games in midweek, but they face an uphill climb against title holders Armenia.

Game preview

Adrian Gula’s Riga regularly feature in the qualifying rounds of UEFA competitions, but the club have not appeared in the Champions League qualifiers since 2021-22, when they were beaten 2-0 by Maccabi Tel Aviv.

In 2025-26, the Latvians came close to reaching the Conference League, but fell short losing 2-1 against Sparta Prague in the final match.

That defeat will be on Gula’s mind as his team was beaten 2-0 in the away game and he was not able to save the team even though they won 1-0 in the game at Skonto Stadium.

A similar scenario has played out so far this time around, with Riga finding themselves two goals behind from the first leg and needing a minor miracle to avoid exiting the Champions League.

The worst part is that goalkeeper Frenks Davids Orols was given a straight red card for handball less than 20 minutes into the second half of last week’s game, and he will not be there on Tuesday because of this.

However, the home fans will take solace in the fact that their side are unbeaten at home in 2026, and considering the deficit, seeing Gula’s men win three of their last five at the Skonto Stadium by at least three goals will give fans a sense of caution.

Meanwhile, Tulipa’s Ararat-Armenia holds the tie won 2-0 in the first legbut it remains to be seen if they can stick to the road.

The Armenian side never made it past the second qualifying round of the Champions League, as they suffered a crushing 1-0 defeat against Omonia Nicosia after extra time as they attempted to make a comeback in 2020-2021.

Goals from Hugo Oliveira and Franca Carlos in the first leg put Tulipa’s men just ninety minutes away from the historic first leg, and with just one loss in their last 11 matches, the team will be hoping to go further.

Adding to that sense of promise is that the visitors have won five of their last six games away from home, drawing once during that time – 0-0 against Noah in April.

Riga FC Champions League form:

Riga FC form (all competitions):

Form of Ararat-Armenia Champions League:

Ararat-Armenia friendship form:

Team News

© Iconsport / Gurgen Hakobyan, Alamy Live News

Riga are without goalkeeper Frenks Orols after he was sent off in the first leg, so expect to see Krisjanis Zviedris line up between the sticks on Tuesday.

Karl Wassom and Baba Musah will man the heart of Tulipa’s defence, just behind the midfield trio of Ahmed Ankrah, Raivis Jurkovskis and Orlando Galo.

Striker Mohamed Badamosi should once again lead the line, aided by attacks from Salah Oulad M’Hand and Raki Aouani.

As for Ararat-Armenia, they may start Bruno Wilson Valdez at center back alongside Junior Julio on Tuesday, after he came on for Alexandros Malis just before the break in the first leg.

Kamo Hovhannisyan and Edgar Grigoryan will man the full-backs, providing attacking support to Artur Serobyan and Zhirayr Shaghoyan.

Riga FC likely starting team:

Zviedris; Eduardo, Wassom, Musah, Salazar; Jurkovskis, Ankrah, Galo; Oulad M’Hand, Aouani; Badass

Ararat-Armenia may start on the list:

João Bravo; Hovhannisyan, Julio, Valdez, Grigoryan; Oliveira, Alwyn, Muradyan; Serobyan, Sandro Lima, Shaghoyan

We say: Riga FC 1-1 Ararat-Armenia

Riga endured a similar situation in 2025-26, and were unable to overcome a two-goal deficit in their qualifying second leg last season.

That defeat will weigh heavily on the team, but they will be competitive and deliver a good performance, so don’t expect to see Ararat-Armenia win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.