Riga vs Celtic
24 September 1800hrs
Football – Europe – Europa League
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker 888Sport
Odds: 8/13 odds taken 2000 GMT, Wednesday 23 September
Celtic have already been knocked out of Champions League qualification for this season and will be hoping they can avoid further disappointment when travelling to face Riga on Thursday.
Table of Contents
Riga Preview – Can Latvian champions cause a shock and knock out their Scottish counterparts?
For a team just six years old, Riga have quickly become the main force in Latvian football. Promoted to the top-flight in 2016, the club have won the past two league titles and are now looking to establish themselves in European football – competing it in a regular basis. Riga are an ambitious club and that’s evidenced by the fact they have been able to attract Oleg Kononov to become their head coach for this season.
Kononov was in charge of Russian giants Spartak Moscow in his most recent role and is something of a coup for him to be coaching in Latvia.
Celtic Preview – Are Celtic going to avoid a successive European shock and reach the Europa League playoff for a third straight year?
It may just before the beginning of the campaign but Celtic have once again suffered early disappointment on the European scene. Defeat at home to Ferencvaros in the second round of the Champions League qualification was a significant setback and the third season in a row which they have come undone in their attempts to reach the group stages of that competition.
Lennon has had to deal with the criticism which came with that, particularly his decision to start that game without a striker. He knows that his team will be under more pressure than normal to reach the group stages of the Europa League as a result.
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Celtic’s away form in the Europa League has been decent enough with the win away to Lazio last season being the undoubted highlight. Lennon’s men have lost just one of their last five away games in the Europa League and that defeat was against Cluj having already done enough to top the group last season.
The big fitness concern going into this game is around Odsonne Edouard. The French striker was on the bench in Celtic’s win over Livingston at the weekend and all concerned will be hoping he is fit enough to start tomorrow. Especially having been absent for the Champions League defeat against the Hungarian champions.
Riga vs Celtic Betting Advice
The bookmakers see this game as something of a mismatch but Celtic cannot afford to underestimate their opponent. The fact it’s a one-off tie and away from home just increases that chance of a shock.
Riga defeated Copenhagen in the home leg of their playoff tie last season – a team that eventually knocked Celtic out in the round of 32. So the warnings are there.
Key Facts – Riga vs Celtic Betting Tip
- Riga seen off San Marino opposition in the previous round – winning 1-0 in a rearranged home tie
- Celtic find themselves attempting to qualify for the Europa League after losing 2-1 at home to Ferencvaros in the Champions League
- The winner of this tie will travel to either Sarajevo or Buducnost in the playoff round next week
Ordinarily when there’s such a disparity in the odds, you would expect a few goals. But I think this could be a low-scoring affair. Seven of Celtic’s last 10 away games in the competition have seen two or fewer goals. Combine that with five of Riga’s last eight doing the same – I’m backing under 2.5 goals.
Best Betting Odds for Riga vs Celtic
Riga to win: 11/1 Boylesports
Draw: 5/1 at Boylesports
Celtic: 1/5 at Boylesports
