We have reached the qualifying stages of the 2022/23 Champions League and on the 6th of July we have a meeting between HJK and Rigas Futbola Skola.
This is the first leg of the first qualifying round tie and it will be played at the Bolt Arena in Helsinki, giving HJK the home advantage.
HJK–RFS keskiviikkona HJK TV:ltä!Parasta paikan päällä, mutta jos et pääse keskiviikkona klo 19 Bolt Arenalle Mestarien liigan karsinta-avaukseen, vaihtoehdon tarjoaa HJK TV (https://t.co/8pexehw2pE), josta matsin näkee Suomessa suorana 5 euron hintaan. #HJK #UCLfi pic.twitter.com/EAaYHgZZm5— HJK Helsinki (@hjkhelsinki) July 4, 2022
HJK–RFS keskiviikkona HJK TV:ltä!Parasta paikan päällä, mutta jos et pääse keskiviikkona klo 19 Bolt Arenalle Mestarien liigan karsinta-avaukseen, vaihtoehdon tarjoaa HJK TV (https://t.co/8pexehw2pE), josta matsin näkee Suomessa suorana 5 euron hintaan. #HJK #UCLfi pic.twitter.com/EAaYHgZZm5
HJK come into the match on the back of a 1-1 draw at home against KuPS in the Finnish Veikkausliiga on the weekend.
That result leaves HJK 3 points behind the leaders in the Finland topflight having played 14 fixtures, one more than the team above them in the table.
The draw with KuPS means HJK have failed to win any of their 4 most recent games in all competitions. They suffered 3 straight defeats prior to the draw with KuPS, losing 1-0 at home in the Veikkausliiga to Oulu and 2-1 away to Mariehamn. Having been held to a 0-0 draw at Inter Turku in the Suomen Cup, HJK lost on penalties.
HJK have failed to win their last 2 fixtures in the Champions League, losing 2-1 at Malmo in the first leg of the second qualifying round last season and drawing 2-2 at home. HJK have been difficult to beat in recent home Champions League matches and they have won 3 of their last 4. The wins have come over HB, Red Star Belgrade, and Buducnost.
Rigas Futbola Skola make the trip to the Bolt Arena having beat BFC Daugavpils 4-0 at home in their most recent game on the 30th of June in the Virsliga.
Rigas Futbola Skola are currently sitting second in the table, 5 points adrift of the leaders having played 20 matches.
Rigas Futbola Skola have won their last 2 games, both of which have been in the Virsliga but they have recorded only 2 victories from their 5 most recent matches.
There have been defeats to Riga and Valmiera away plus a draw at home with Liepaja in the Virsliga.
Away form shows Rigas Futbola Skola have won 7 of their last 10 fixtures on the road, all of which have come in the Virsliga. However, this will be their first game in the Champions League having never qualified for the competition before in their history.
Looking ahead to the team news and HJK are likely to start with Serbian Bojan Radulović in attack and he could be joined by 19-year-old Casper Terho. Conor Hazard, on loan from Celtic, will play in goal.
Rigas Futbola Skola have a Serbian striker of their own and Andrej Ilić has 12 league goals to his name this season. He could be joined by Brazilian Emerson Deocleciano in attack for the visitors.
With HJK having seen over 2.5 goals in their last 4 Champions League fixtures, we could see more of the same in this match. Both teams could find the back of the net but we expect to see HJK record a narrow victory ahead of the second leg in Latvia.