Prediction for Győr vs Riga: the Hungarians will have to fight back - 13.08.2026
The second leg of the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round between Győr and Riga promises to be a thrilling encounter.
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After the first match, the advantage is with the Latvian club—1:0—but it’s far from over. Now the teams head to Hungary, where the hosts will need to overturn a narrow deficit.
The first leg was quite a peculiar affair. Riga secured victory, with the only goal coming as early as the third minute. However, it wasn’t a Latvian player who found the net—Balaint Scheilem scored an own goal. The scoreline didn’t change after that, although Győr had plenty of time to equalize.
This is a particularly frustrating result for the Hungarians, who had confidently navigated the second qualifying round. Győr thrashed Luxembourg’s Atert Bissen 6:2 away, then drew 1:1 at home. With a 7:3 aggregate, they showcased serious attacking potential.
But Riga is an opponent of a completely different caliber. The Latvian side has already played several intense European matches this summer and is used to such pressure. In the Champions League qualifiers, Riga lost 0:2 to Ararat-Armenia, then turned things around at home with a 3:2 win, and after dropping into the Conference League, they knocked out Vardar. The first leg in Skopje ended 3:2 to Riga, and at home, they won 5:2 after extra time, making it 8:4 on aggregate.
So, the visitors already have experience in real European shootouts. Riga can adapt their game: when they need to attack, they can score multiple goals, but with a one-goal lead, they can sit back and play for the result. That’s a scenario we could well see here.
Győr, meanwhile, will have to open up. A narrow 1:0 win would take the tie to extra time, while a victory by two or more goals would send the Hungarians through. There’s no point for the hosts to sit deep in defense.
This is where Győr’s main advantage could come into play—their home stadium and the need to push forward. The Hungarians will surely try to start aggressively, looking for an early goal. If they can break the deadlock in the first half, this could turn into an end-to-end spectacle.
But there’s another side to the coin. Riga only need to avoid defeat to advance. The Latvians can afford to play pragmatic football, waiting for the hosts to make mistakes and looking to hit them on the counter.
It’s also important to remember that Győr has already faced strong European opposition this season. They began their continental campaign in the Champions League qualifiers, losing 0:1 away to Vikingur Reykjavik before drawing 2:2 at home. After dropping into the Conference League, they confidently dispatched Atert Bissen.
So Győr have some European experience as well, and this home clash with Riga will be a real test of their maturity. They’ll need to attack, but do so wisely, as conceding just once could all but kill the intrigue. If Riga score, the hosts would then need three goals in regular time to advance without extra time.
It’s also worth mentioning Győr’s recent squad boost. The club recently signed experienced defender Leon Balogun, who moved to Hungary after leaving Aris Limassol. However, he didn’t feature in the first game against Riga, as he wasn’t registered in time for European competition.
All in all, I’m expecting a very interesting match here. Riga are in a more comfortable position and can play for the result, while Győr will have to take the initiative. That all but guarantees open spaces and chances for both sides.
The key is not to expect overly cautious football from the hosts. They need goals, and preferably more than one. So as the match progresses, the Hungarians will ramp up the pressure, while Riga will look to exploit the counterattack.
Győr should play much more aggressively at home than they did in the first leg, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they manage to level the aggregate score. At the same time, Riga have already shown they know how to exploit space and can score even in tough situations.
Prediction: both teams to score – yes.
