Hearts vs RFS prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 19:00.
Nothing but a victory – and a favourable result in the other UEFA Europa Conference League group game – will do for Hearts if they harbour any hope of playing springtime football in European competition for the first time since 1988/89. Heavy back-to-back defeats at the hands of Fiorentina have made that an uphill task after only one group win so far, and means Robbie Neilson’s men have conceded twice as many goals as any other side in Group A.
That defensive frailty has led to the Jam Tarts’ form spiralling of late, failing to win any of their last six matches in all competitions (D1, L5) in a run that’s seen them concede 20 goals, including a 4-3 loss at the hands of Celtic at the weekend which saw them drop out of the top six in the Scottish Premiership. Hearts have managed just two clean sheets this season too, but one of them did come in the 2-0 reverse fixture win which gives them reason to hope here.
Riga FS travel to Edinburgh knowing that a win is imperative to keep their incredibly slim chances of progression alive, but the Latvian champions are likely just playing for pride as they search for a first ever victory in a European group stage. It’s been a rude awakening for Viktors Morozs’ men, as it’s now been three games since they managed to score their solitary goal against Fiorentina, something that’ll need to change if they’re to take anything away from their first ever trip to Scotland.
At least Rigas managed to snap a three-game winless streak domestically with an emphatic 4-0 success over Super Nova at the weekend, in what was a timely response after losing the Latvian Cup final. They’ve actually lost just one of their last 15 league outings (W9, D5), form that they’ll hope can inspire them to go one better than their superb 1-1 draw at Fiorentina to open their group campaign.
Players to watch: Lawrence Shankland netted in the reverse fixture and scored a hat-trick in Hearts’ defeat to Celtic over the weekend. Looking to do the damage for Riga FS will be Andrej Ilić who scored their only previous goal in the group stage, and has never lost when scoring for the Latvian champions (W16, D4).
Hot stat: Just three of Hearts’ last 11 games have seen both sides score.