Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Europa League match.
A challenging start to the Europa League group stage for both Rigas Futbola Skola and PAOK has left the teams languishing at the bottom of the standings. Their head-to-head encounter in Riga isn't expected to produce many scoring opportunities, as both sides will be intent on securing a result.
Rigas Futbola Skola
In the four rounds of the current Europa League campaign, RFS have managed only four shots on target. In their recent matches against Eintracht Frankfurt (0:1) and RSC Anderlecht (1:1), the Latvian side created minimal dangerous situations. Against the Belgian team, they generated 0.86 xG with 33% possession, and their 3-5-2 formation allows them to sit deep and reduce threats near their goal. RFS will be without Ismael Diomandé, Emerson Deocleciano, Alfusainey Jatta, and Petr Mareš, limiting their squad options further.
PAOK
Despite significant summer acquisitions, PAOK's current form hasn't justified the investment. The Greek side have scored even fewer goals (three) than their upcoming opponents. At Old Trafford against Manchester United (0:2), they failed to convert any goals from 1.33 xG, while the introductions of forwards Fedor Chalov and Kiril Despodov only briefly enlivened the match. Notably, Despodov has recorded only 1+2 in 18 appearances for the team across all competitions.
Rigas Futbola Skola vs PAOK Prediction
The lacklustre state of both RFS and PAOK's attacks will affect the quality of the game. Adverse weather conditions will also be a challenge for the teams, resulting in a slow-paced encounter in Riga with few goals.
