Match Preview
Ahead of our FK Ventspils vs Valur Reykjavik betting tips the home side have endured a rough start domestically in the Virsliga. Ventspils sit third from bottom after eleven games having won just twice in those opening fixtures. They will hope a European game can provide a much-needed spark in their quest to ignite their faltering campaign.
Jelgava 2-0 FK Ventspils
FK Ventspils 1-2 Babite
Liepaja 2-1 FK Ventspils
Rigas FS 1-1 FK Ventspils
Heading into our FK Ventspils vs Valur Reykjavik predictions, the away side’s form has been much more encouraging start than their opponents on Thursday. Valur are sitting pretty atop the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild after nine games and they have lost just twice in twenty fixtures in all competitions.
Valur Reykjavik 2-1 IBV
Breidablik 1-2 Valur Reykjavik
Valur Reykjavik 1-0 KA
Fjolnir 1-1 Valur Reykjavik
Reason For Ventspils vs Valur Betting Tips
Ventspils have made themselves regulars in Europe since the turn of the millennium, but as you might expect from a Latvian side, they rarely get much further than the qualifying rounds in either competition.
Last season was no different, as they were knocked out by Aberdeen in the 2nd qualifying round, keeping their 2009/10 group appearance in the tournament as their biggest continental success to date.
The Latvian top flight is already in full flow, but with Valur also in the middle of their domestic season, the Latvian hosts can’t rely on their match fitness alone. Their visitors are also in much better form than Ventspils, who have lost three of their last four in the league.
Valur, on the other hand, have won three of their last four league games and drawn the other one. They find themselves top of the Iceland Urvalsdeild and now hope to add Europa League success on top of that.
They, like their opponents, don’t tend to have much success in the competition though. They returned to Europe for the first time since 2008 last season and were promptly knocked out by Brondby.
Valur will feel a little more confident about their chances in this tie though. Brondby are a big team compared to Ventspils and the hosts have only won three of their last 15 home games in Europe. With Valur in such fine form domestically odds of 4/5 for a Valur Win or Draw Double Chance look good value, so I’m going for that along with a 1-1 correct score predictions at 11/2.
Head To Head
This will be the first meeting between these two sides.
Ventspils vs Valur Stats
Ventspils have only won 20% of their last 15 home games in Europe.