HJK Helsinki and Rigas Futbola Skola will get their Champions League qualification underway when they lock horns at the Helsinki Football Stadium in the first leg of their opening round on Wednesday night.
Both sides won their domestic league titles last season to book a spot in the UEF Champions League Qualifiers, with HJK being the reigning champions of Veikkausliiga the Finnish top-flight, while Rigas Futbola are the current champions of the Latvian Higher League.
Both have been doing a great job this season in their respective campaigns in defence of their titles, and both sides currently sit in second place in their different domestic league tables with the hosts being only three points off the summit of Veikkausliiga, while the visitors are five points off the summit of Latvian Higher League.
However, the two head into the match in different forms with HJK struggling for form lately having gone winless in their last four matches across all competitions, losing three and drawing one in the process, while RFS boast a slightly better form having won their last two, ending a three match winless run.
Now HJK will be desperate to end their poor run as they look to gain an advantage before the second leg at away, while RFs will be looking to extend their winning streak as seek to claim first leg advantage at away.
HJK vs RFS head to head
Both sides met in two encounters since 2020 with both picking up a victory.
- HJK 0-2 Rigas Futbola 29/01/22
- HJK 2-1 Rigas Futbola 18/01/20
Home
- HJK 1-1 KuPS
- Turku 5-4 HJK (AP)
- Mariehamn 2-1 HJK
- HJK 0-1 Oulu
- Vaasa 1-2 HJK (AP)
Away
- Rigas Futbola 4-0 Daugavpils
- Spartaks 0-2 Rigas Futbola
- Valmiera 4-0 Rigas Futbola
- Rigas Futbola 2-2 Liepaja
- Riga FC 2-0 Rigas Futbola
HJK team news
Atomu Tanaka is doubt for HJK after coming off at halftime with a knock last time out against KuPS.
Rigas Futbola Skola team news
RFS have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash.
Prediction and odds
- Double chance (1, X)
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
