Both teams have been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds but remain in the running for a place in European competition this autumn. The first leg takes place in Riga, where the hosts have consistently shown attacking ambition and a tendency for high-scoring matches.
Rīgas Futbola Skola opened their European campaign with a confident pair of 1:0 victories over Levadia Tallinn, but were unable to compete with Malmö FF, suffering heavy defeats (1:4, 0:1). Domestically, their form has held up well — a 3:2 win against Grobina marked the third time in their last five league outings that the team scored at least three goals. They have been dominant at home, recording seven wins and one draw in their last eight Latvian Higher League matches on home soil. Creativity in attack is evident, though defensive concerns persist.
Kuopion Palloseura followed a similar trajectory — progressing past Milsami Orhei (1:0) before letting a two-goal advantage slip against FC Kairat (2:0, 0:3) in the next round. The squad responded with a 3:2 win over FC Haka in domestic action. On the road, Kuopion Palloseura have lost only once in their last five away fixtures, although wins have been hard to come by, with draws more common. While not consistently clinical away from home, they are capable of generating goalscoring opportunities.
Rīgas Futbola Skola are prolific at home, while Kuopion Palloseura are less reliable on their travels, though still capable of finding the net. Both teams show defensive frailties, suggesting a potentially open encounter.