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Liepaja host Vikingur at the Daugava Stadium in Latvia on Thursday for the first leg of their clash in the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round. Despite coming fifth in the 2023 Latvian Higher League, Liepaja managed to reach this stage by winning the Latvian Football Cup last year.
It marks their return to European qualifiers after two years, and for just the seventh time overall, but they have never actually reached the group stages of any major tournament before.
Both their previous appearances in the Conference League qualifiers saw them progress to the second round before seeing their hopes dashed. In the 2021-22 season, the Latvian side were beaten 3-1 on penalties by CSKA Sofia after drawing 0-0 on aggregate, before Young Boys crushed them 4-0 on aggregate in the following year.
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As for their rivals from the Faroe Islands, it is their third consecutive appearance in the Conference League qualifiers. Two years ago, the side had reached the second qualifying round, but couldn't progress beyond the first in 2023.
Like Liepaja, they have never qualified for a major European club tournament before.
Liepaja vs Vikingur Head-To-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first official clash between the sides.
- In their last 10 qualifying games in Europe, Liepaja have won just twice: 4-1 vs Struga in the 2021-22 season and 3-1 vs Gjilani in the 2022-23 season.
- Their Faroe Island rivals haven't won any of their last four games in the European qualifiers, losing thrice and drawing once.
- Liepaja have progressed from the first round of the UEFA Conference League qualifiers in both their previous appearances.
- The Vikings are facing Latvian opposition for the third time in their European qualifier history: they played Daugava in the first round of the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League qualifiers and then Ventspils in the same stage of the 2016-17 UEFA Europa League qualifiers.
Liepaja vs Vikingur Prediction
Liepaja have more experience in Europe and have the home advantage in this match. They could come flying out of the blocks in search of an advantage and we expect them to secure a narrow victory in this first leg.
Prediction: Liepaja 1-0 Vikingur
Liepaja vs Vikingur Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Result: Liepaja to win
Tip 2 - Goals over/under 2.5: Under 2.5 goals
Tip 3 - Both teams to score: No
