Armenia vs Latvia prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League C betting tips on match 2024-09-06 16:00.
[p]Having endured relegation for the first time in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) after back-to-back promotions, Armenia start their League C Group 4 journey with a home game against Latvia – a team they defeated 2-1 at this venue in June 2023 as part of UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying. That was one of just two wins in an otherwise forgettable campaign (W2, D2, L4) and they are likely to target redemption here by finishing in the top two group spots.[/p]
[p]That would earn a shot at promotion, but to get things off to a positive start, Oleksandr Petrakovâs men need to replicate the 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan in June that helped them end a nine-game winless sequence (D2, L7). Even a draw would probably cheer up the locals, who have witnessed five UNL losses in their last five matches at all venues, including two defeats in Armeniaâs capital Yerevan, where the hosts conceded a total of nine goals.[/p]
[p]Latvia will target those defensive vulnerabilities as they aim to build on their first-ever UNL promotion, which was achieved by topping their group in 2022/23. Despite taking 13 points from six games in that campaign, they only moved up into League C at Moldovaâs expense thanks to a superior head-to-head goal difference, while recent form doesnât augur well for the 11 Wolves, who have recorded just two wins from their last 15 matches (D2, L11).[/p]
[p]Seven of those 11 defeats also saw them fail to score, so improvements in the final third will be much sought-after. Latviaâs resilience on the road could provide them with a confidence boost though, as they havenât lost any of their last eight UNL away trips (W3, D5), finding the net on seven of those occasions.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Armenia captain Varazdat Haroyan may test the patience of the referee as he has been carded in six of his last nine national team appearances, as well as five of his last seven matches at club level. Looking to target him could be JÄnis Ikaunieks, who scored the opener in a 2-0 H2H win for Latvia when these sides last met and comes here in fine form, having netted seven times across his last six club games.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Armenia havenât kept a clean sheet in 21 matches.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar Bhamidi[/i][/p]