Home revenge with no room for error: prediction for Dečić vs Liepāja
The second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round between Dečić and Liepāja is set for July 15, 2026, at the Tuško Stadium in Tuzi. The Latvian side claimed a narrow 1-0 win in the first encounter, despite playing nearly 70 minutes with ten men, and now head to Montenegro without their captain for a challenging away fixture.
Dečić: home advantage offers a chance to reignite the tie
In the opening match, the Montenegrin side gained a numerical advantage as early as the 21st minute when Marvins Martinš was sent off for the visitors. However, Dečić failed to capitalize and conceded the only goal midway through the second half after a swift counterattack finished by Ede Oloko.
Despite the defeat, the hosts' situation is far from hopeless: a win by just one goal would force extra time. Before their trip to Latvia, Dečić impressed in two friendlies, thrashing Arsenal Tivat 4-1 and Elbasani 3-0, and have suffered just two defeats in their last nine outings.
Liepāja: away struggles and loss of defensive leader
Liepāja showed true character in the first leg, keeping a clean sheet after an early red card. The decisive goal came in the 64th minute: Amar Haidara intercepted a pass and sent Ede Oloko through one-on-one, with the Latvian league's top scorer coolly beating the keeper.
In Tuzi, the visitors will have to cope without captain and central defender Marvins Martinš, who is suspended. Their away form is also a concern: they suffered defeats against Riga (0-4), Grobiņa (0-1), and Daugavpils (1-3), losing four of their last six matches across all competitions.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Liepāja won the first leg 1-0 despite being reduced to ten men in the 21st minute.
- The Latvian club has lost its last three away games.
- Dečić are unbeaten in seven of their last nine matches.
The hosts will exploit the visitors’ problems: Dečić vs Liepāja prediction
Dečić will need to be more clinical in front of goal, having failed to score in Latvia despite their long-standing numerical superiority. At home, the Montenegrins are expected to be more aggressive, and the need to overturn only a one-goal deficit allows them to stay compact early on.
Liepāja may have a slender advantage, but their poor away form and the suspension of their key central defender increase the likelihood of defensive lapses. The hosts look well-placed to at least avoid defeat and keep their hopes of progressing alive until the final whistle.
