FK Jablonec return to European qualifying after a mixed two-game start, but their solid home debut — a 2-0 clean-sheet win — will give them belief against an in-form Rīgas FS side riding a three-match winning streak. RFS have scored in every qualifier and carry a dangerous…
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Sign inCzech side FK Jablonec welcome Latvian champions Rīgas FS to their Stadion Střelnice home on 6 August 2026 for the first leg of a UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie. Jablonec reached this stage directly, while RFS arrive after eliminating Glentoran in the previous round. The winner over two legs will advance to the play-off round, one step from the group stage.
Both managers appear to have near-full squads to select from, with no significant absentees reported in the days before the first leg. Jablonec’s domestic season is in its infancy, so the squad should be fresh, while RFS are in the middle of their Virsliga campaign and have built match sharpness through competitive fixtures. The hosts may hand a European debut to one or two summer signings, but the core of the side is expected to be built around experienced campaigners.
Jablonec’s 2025–26 Fortuna Liga campaign ended in mid-table, and they enter this tie with only a handful of league matches behind them in the new season. Their last competitive outing was a narrow home win, though the identity of the opponent is unclear from available reports. The Czechs are traditionally difficult to beat at home in early-round qualifiers, leaning on a compact shape and quick transitions.
Rīgas FS, by contrast, have been relentless domestically. The Latvian champions have won the last three Virsliga titles and are already well into their 2026 season, topping the table and scoring freely. They eliminated Glentoran 3-2 on aggregate in the previous round, showing resilience after a 1-0 first-leg defeat by winning the return 3-1. The extra competitive minutes could prove valuable against a Jablonec side still gelling.
Veteran defender and captain Tomáš Hübschman remains the anchor of Jablonec’s back line. The 38-year-old’s reading of the game and aerial presence will be vital against an RFS attack that thrives on quick, direct moves. Leading that attack is Brazilian winger Emerson Deocleciano, whose dribbling and late runs into the box caused Glentoran problems. If Hübschman can deny Emerson space in the channels, Jablonec’s chances of keeping a clean sheet rise sharply.
For Jablonec, reaching the Conference League group phase would represent a return to familiar territory after several recent near-misses. RFS have never made it to a UEFA group stage, and this tie offers the biggest opportunity in the club’s history to do so. The second leg in Riga a week later will almost certainly decide the outcome, making the first-leg performance in this intimate 6,280-capacity ground crucial.
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44FK Jablonec
Coach: Lubos Kozel
Rīgas FS
Coach: Viktors Morozs
