The Finns hold a 2:1 advantage after the first leg in Riga and will look to finish the job at home to reach the final qualifying round. In front of their own fans, KuPS should find it easier to play through RFS’s pressing.
In Latvia, KuPS dominated the first half, scoring through Jaakko Oksanen and Mohamed Touré. The team conceded only after the break but held on for the win. They dropped into this stage after exiting the Champions League against Kairat, where they collapsed in the first half of the return leg (0:3). At home, KuPS have been flawless — five straight victories, including two European matches without conceding. In the league, they beat KTP (2:0), their third win on the bounce.
After losing the first leg, the Latvians thrashed Super Nova (4:1) in the league. However, before facing KuPS, they were comfortably beaten by Malmö in the Champions League qualifiers (1:5 on aggregate). On their travels, RFS have been strong — winning six of their last seven away games in all competitions. To progress, they need to win by at least two goals, so they will have to take risks.
KuPS consistently take the initiative at home and score freely. With Rigas Futbola Skola forced to push forward, the hosts should get space to exploit. In form and boasting an excellent home run, KuPS have already shown they can break down the Riga defence. We’re backing KuPS to score over 1.5 goals.
