Both striving to earn their first wins of the League Phase in this competition, Rigas Futbola Skola and PAOK will lock horns for a Europa League battle on Thursday evening.
RFS have conquered their domestic scene once again this year but are now looking for success on the continent, whilst the White and Blacks are tussling to retain their Greek Super League crown.
Match preview
![Petr Mares of FK Rigas Futbola Skola during the UEFA Europa Conference League Group A match at Tynecastle Park on October 10, 2022 [on August 20, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/34/petr-mares.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Petr Mares of FK Rigas Futbola Skola during the UEFA Europa Conference League Group A match at Tynecastle Park on October 10, 2022 [on August 20, 2024]")
© Imago
For only the third occasion in their humble history, Rigas Futbola Skola lifted the Latvian crown during the 2024 campaign, with Thursday's hosts in the Europa League finishing three points ahead of city rivals Riga FC in the Virsliga standings, meaning that RFS have won back-to-back league titles for the first time.
As expected, RFS have struggled to convert their domestic dominance onto the Europa League stage so far in 2024-25, with the collection of two points from their opening quartet of League Phase matches leaving them languishing down in 32nd place in the 36-team competition standings.
That being said, the Latvians have shown their considerable competitiveness in Europe over recent months, especially at their Riga base, where they have managed to force both Turkish powerhouses Galatasaray and Belgian giants Anderlecht to a share of the points.
It looked as if RFS were hurtling towards their third defeat of the League Phase on November 7 when Mario Stroeykens fired Anderlecht ahead at Daugavas Stadiona, but a 96th-minute own goal from left-back Moussa N'Diaye resulted in a shock split of the honours on matchday four.
Focusing purely on domestic form, Viktors Morozs's side have been a formidable force in front of their own supporters so far this calendar year, with Thursday's hosts winning 14 and scoring an eye-watering 61 goals across 18 Virsliga home matches on their way to the Latvian crown.
© Imago
Heading into this continental campaign proudly boasting the 2023-24 Greek Super League title, PAOK were expected by many to compete at the top of the League Phase this Autumn, but Thursday's visitors to Riga are yet to enjoy the feeling of European success at the midway point of the section.
The White and Blacks' most recent Europa League outing arrived on November 7 prior to the final international year of the calendar year, when a Manchester United side under the interim leadership of Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy won 2-0 at Old Trafford courtesy of an Amad Diallo double in the second half.
Since that unsuccessful trip to the red side of Manchester, PAOK have suffered a major blow in the early race for the Super League title after losing 3-2 at home to title rivals Olympiacos, but Razvan Lucescu's troops returned to winning ways on the weekend, beating Asteras Tripolis.
The Greeks should be relatively confident of earning a positive result in Latvia on Thursday night considering that they have only lost to Man United and Galatasaray across 11 away matches in all competitions this season, with the White and Blacks unbeaten in six outings in the Super League so far.
PAOK have a number of players within their squad who will be recognisable to followers of the Premier League, including former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren and ex-Chelsea full-back Abdul Baba Rahman, who is surprisingly second behind Stefan Schwab in the club's scoring charts.
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Team News
![PAOK s Taison celebrates after scoring the first goal for his team during a Greek Superleague playoffs game between PAOK FC and Olympiacos FC. PAOK won the game 2-0 May 12, 2024 [on July 22, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/taison.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "PAOK s Taison celebrates after scoring the first goal for his team during a Greek Superleague playoffs game between PAOK FC and Olympiacos FC. PAOK won the game 2-0 May 12, 2024 [on July 22, 2024]")
© Imago
RFS remain without the services of defensive midfielder Alfusainey Jatta, who is currently struggling with a back injury as he targets a return to action in December.
Notching 11 goals in the Virsliga during 2024, Ismael Diomande has been sidelined since August due to a ligament issue, representing a massive miss for the Latvians.
The hosts are also unable to call upon the talents of Brazilian Emerson Deocleciano, with the 25-year-old battling back from a leg injury sustained in September.
PAOK are also without a key Brazilian in the form of attacker Taison, who has not featured since the international break because of physical discomfort.
Once a star at the likes of Monaco, Chelsea and AC Milan, Tiemoue Bakayoko is currently in the medical room of the Greeks fighting a calf strain.
Rigas Futbola Skola possible starting lineup:
Ondoa; Njie, Prenga, Balodis; Savalneiks, Markhiev, Panic, Zelenkovs, Odisharia; Ikaunieks, Kouadio
PAOK possible starting lineup:
Kotarski; Jonny, Kedziora, Colley, Baba; Ozdoev, Schwab, Zivkovic, Camara, Despodov; Tissoudali
We say: Rigas Futbola Skola 2-2 PAOK
Boasting an impressive home record in 2024, RFS will be confident of earning another positive result against a big club in the Europa League on Thursday night.
PAOK have suffered with inconsistency of late and are still awaiting their maiden League Phase success, and we believe that the Greeks will be frustratingly held in Riga.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
