After picking up their first ever poit in a European competions last week, Rigas FS will be looking for a maiden win on the continent when they travel to Turkey to face group leaders Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday.
The Latvian underdogs will still be quietly optimistic of advancing to the Europa Conference League knockout rounds having already taken point off next opponents and Fiorentina in the section.
Basaksehir won their opening five league matches without conceding a single goal, while also beating Hearts and Fiorentina 4-0 and 3-0 respectively in their opening two group matches in this competition.
However, they have since won just one of their four matches, and even then they required a late winner from Deniz Turuc to defeat recently-promoted Ankaragucu.
Two goalless draws have followed against Fatih Karagumruk and in the reverse fixture with Rigas FS last week, before they lost at home to Sivasspor on Monday.
However, Basaksehir are still huge favourites to advance from Group A, as victory here will keep them at least three points clear of the rest, and their wins over Hearts and Fiorentina give them a huge advantage in any potential head-to-head deciders should they finish level on points.
Despite sitting bottom of the section, Rigas have shown that they belong at this level, as being ranked outsiders did not stop them from coming home with a point from Florence, and almost snatched all three at home to Basaksehir last week.
Viktors Morozs rested a number of their key players for their Virsliga game at the weekend in which they drew 1-1 with Auda.
That draw has surely ended any hopes of Rigas challenging for the league title, in which there are just five league matches left to play in the season, but a Conference League spot looks safely secured again for next season.
Istanbul Basaksehir vs Rigas FS head to head
These two teams have previously met on just one occasion in the Europa Conference League on October 6, where they played out a goalless draw.
Rigas FS 0-0 Istanbul Basaksehir 06/10/22
Istanbul Basaksehir latest home form
Istanbul Basaksehir were beaten 2-0 by Sivasspor in their last home game in the league. However, they have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their previous 15 games. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded four.
Istanbul Basaksehir 2-0 Alanyspor 03/09/22
Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 Fiorentina 15/09/22
Istanbul Basaksehir 0-0 Fatih Karagumruk 18/09/22
Istanbul Basaksehir 5-2 Eyuspor 25/09/22
Istanbul Basaksehir 0-2 Sivasspor 10/10/22
Istanbul Basaksehir latest away form
Istanbul Basaksehir have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their 10 most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Rigas FS in their last away game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded two.
Antwerp 1-3 Istanbul Basaksehir 25/08/22
Hearts 0-4 Istanbul Basaksehir 08/09/22
Besiktas 0-1 Istanbul Basaksehir 12/09/22
Ankaragucu 1-2 Istanbul Basaksehir 01/10/22
Rigas FS 0-0 Istanbul Basaksehir 06/10/22
Rigas FS latest home form
Rigas FS have recently been on a good run of form at home, having lost just one of their eight most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Istanbul Basaksehir in their last home game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded three.
Rigas FS 1-1 Riga 04/09/22
Rigas FS 3-0 Spartaks Jurmala 12/09/22
Rigas FS 0-2 Hearts 15/09/22
Rigas FS 6-0 Metta 01/10/22
Rigas FS 0-0 Istanbul Basaksehir 06/10/22
Rigas FS latest away form
Rigas FS have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their nine most recent matches. They played out a 1-1 draw with Auda in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded five.
Linfield 1-1(P) Rigas FS 25/08/22
Liepaja 1-2 Rigas FS 29/08/22
Fiorentina 1-1 Rigas FS 08/09/22
BFC Daugavpils 1-3 Rigas FS 27/09/22
Auda 1-1 Rigas FS 09/10/22
Istanbul Basaksehir news
Serdar Gurler offered the main threat for Basaksehir throughout the match in Latvia last week, and he will be handed a start ahead of either Mounir Choular and Bertrand Traore.
Moldovan defender Alexandru Epureanu made his first start in two months in the defeat to Sivasspor, but Ahmed Touba could partner Youssouf Ndayishimiye at centre-back.
Rigas FS news
Rigas FS will have just one player unavailable for this contest, with captain Tomas Simkovic having picked up an inexplicable second yellow card with 20 minutes remaining last week.
That could mean Morozs may give a chance to Kevin Friesenbichler from the start for the first time in the group stage.
Prediction and Odds
Basaksehir are the only team in the Europa Conference League yet to concede a goal, and with the likelihood of Rigas FS playing defensively here, that may remain intact.
The visitors have lost just two of their last nine matches in this competition, but the hosts should have enough quality to get the job done.
Odds: 1 1.82 X 2.12 X 3.20
Probable outcomes
Istanbul Basaksehir 2-0 Rigas FS
Istanbul Basaksehir 2-1 Rigas FS
Istanbul Basaksehir 3-0 Rigas FS
Istanbul Basaksehir 3-1 Rigas FS
Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 Rigas FS
