Latvia vs Cyprus Prediction 28 September 2026
🔊 Latvia and Cyprus meet in the second round of the league phase of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. The Group C2 match takes place at the Skonto Stadium in Riga. Both sides began the tournament with defeats - Latvia lost to Armenia (0:2) in Yerevan, while Cyprus were beaten by Montenegro (1:2) in Podgorica. This head-to-head now gives both teams the chance to pick up their first points and avoid falling further behind the group leaders so early in the competition. It will be Latvia's first home match in this Nations League campaign, while Cyprus are playing away for the second consecutive time. The meeting in Riga could therefore be an important test for both sides after their difficult starts.
Cyprus and Latvia: their first-ever official head-to-head in history
📊 The two sides have met three times, and Cyprus are yet to lose: two wins and one draw, with a goal difference of 4:1. Their most recent meeting came in March 2024, a friendly in Larnaca that ended 1:1. Before that, Cyprus had beaten Latvia twice: 1:0 in 1996 and 2:0 in 1997. Latvia have yet to find a way past Cyprus, and the upcoming match will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides.
Latvia look to sharpen their attack ahead of clash with Cyprus
In the previous Nations League, Latvia competed in League C and finished fourth in Group C4. They won one match, drew two and lost three, picking up four points. That bottom-place finish meant they had to take part in the relegation play-offs. In March 2026, Latvia beat Gibraltar twice and retained their place in League C. They therefore begin the new edition in the same division, now in Group C2, where their opponents are Armenia, Montenegro and Cyprus. Paolo Nicolato remains in charge. The Italian has been working with Latvia since the start of 2024, and following the successful relegation play-off he had his contract extended. The federation also set a more ambitious target for the new cycle: a challenge for first place in the group.
The start of the current tournament has not gone well: Latvia lost to Armenia 0-2. That opening match showed that Latvia are still struggling to create chances in attack. They spent most of the game without the ball, managed only five shots and hit the target just once. Dangerous moments in front of the opposition goal were rare. The difference in corners was particularly striking: Latvia earned just two, while Armenia took ten. The team did not look completely outclassed in individual duels, but they had clear problems moving the ball forward and getting out of their defensive shape. Ahead of the home match against Cyprus, improving the team's play in the final third will be Nicolato's key task. Latvia need to get into shooting positions more often and create pressure in the opposition penalty area, otherwise consistent points will be hard to come by.
Match Results: Latvia
Cyprus look to claim their first points as they take on Latvia
In the previous Nations League cycle, Cyprus competed in League C and finished third in Group C2. They collected six points, beating Lithuania twice, but losing to Romania and Kosovo. As a result, they retained their place in the third tier and kept the chance to push for promotion again. In the new cycle, Cyprus are again in League C, this time in Group C2 alongside Armenia, Montenegro and Latvia. The ambition is greater now: after finishing third last time, they have the opportunity to fight for promotion to League B. Apostolos Mantzios remains in charge. The Greek coach was officially appointed in January 2025, and in March 2026 the federation extended his contract until January 2029, meaning he will continue with the team not only through the current Nations League but into future cycles as well.
The start to this campaign has been difficult: Cyprus lost to Montenegro 1-2. They took the lead and looked fairly lively before the break, but the match in Podgorica showed that while Cyprus can create chances and make good use of opportunities in attack, they are struggling to hold on to a lead. In the first round, Mantzios's side had 11 shots, four of which were on target, but could not protect their advantage after scoring. Before the Nations League began, Cyprus had also shown decent attacking output, scoring six goals in three matches in 2026. Defensively, though, they have been less reliable, as was particularly evident in the closing stages against Montenegro. Ahead of the trip to Riga, improving their game after taking the lead is the key priority. If they can maintain their attacking activity while being more solid without the ball, their chances of picking up their first points in the group will be higher.
Match Results: Cyprus
Latest news
Latvia
❓ Jānis Ikaunieks - picked up an injury in training, though the LFF have not ruled out his return for the home match.
❓ Kristaps Grabovskis - has a minor injury, and his participation in the match against Cyprus remains in doubt.
Cyprus
❓ Christos Sielis - injured; was training individually on 22 September.
❓ Konstantinos Laifis - muscle injury; was following an individual training programme on 22 September.
Predicted Lineups
📋 Latvia predicted starting XI: Matrevics - Savalnieks, Černomordijs, Balodis, Jurkovskis, Ciganiks - Emsis, Vapne, Zeļenkovs, Toņišev - Uldrikis
📋 Cyprus predicted starting XI: Fabiano - Pileas, Sotiriou, Christou, Panayotou - Kastanos, Artymatas, Kyprianu - Pittas, Kakoulis, Edwards
⚽ Goals Prediction
Latvia begin their home campaign in the group stage after a 0-2 defeat to Armenia. Cyprus also lost in the opening round but managed to score in Podgorica, going down 1-2 to Montenegro. Both sides therefore go into this meeting without a point, which raises the stakes. The trend is notable: Total Goals - Over 1.5 has landed in 13 of Cyprus's last 14 matches. The last meeting between Latvia and Cyprus also produced goals, ending 1-1. Latvia will need to open up more here, as another dropped result would significantly complicate their position in the group. Cyprus already showed in the first round that they can cause problems away from home. Latvia, for their part, should be more adventurous at home after a goalless defeat in Yerevan. Given the situation in the standings and the nature of both sides' opening matches, there are grounds to expect at least two goals. Our prediction: Total Goals - Over 1.5 at odds of 1.40*.
🚩 Corners Prediction
Cyprus come into this match with a strong trend for the corners market: Total Corners - Under 9.5 has landed in each of their last five matches in a row. In the first round, the islanders relied more on quick attacks and transitions than on sustained pressure around the opposition box. Latvia, following their home defeat to Armenia, should look to push forward more, but the desire to attack alone is not enough to generate a high number of corners. If the hosts fail to score early, the match could settle into a more cautious pattern with few extended wide attacks. Given Cyprus's current run and the expected nature of the game, Total Corners - Under 9.5 looks a reasonable option at odds of 1.76*.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
Both sides need points after losing in the opening round, so the stakes are high in this match. Latvia are at home and will likely look to control the game, while Cyprus, after a poor start, have little reason to push forward from the first minute. In that scenario, the teams could play a fairly cautious match, particularly in the early stages. If the game does not turn into a constant battle with a high number of stoppages, the total of 3.5 cards may go unpunished. Our prediction: Total Yellow Cards - Under 3.5 at odds of 1.55*.
*Odds are indicative and may vary depending on the bookmaker.
⭐ Editorial Prediction
Both sides were left without a point after the opening round, so the stakes in Riga are high. Latvia now have home advantage and will want to make use of it, but in Yerevan they failed to score and lost 0:2. Cyprus also lost away from home, but did score in Podgorica and went down by just one goal. At the start of the tournament, Cyprus looked more convincing in attack: they created chances in the opposition half and kept fighting until the end, not allowing their opponents to settle the result early. Latvia, for their part, have so far lacked sharpness up front, and home advantage alone is not enough to make them favourites in this fixture. Predicted score: 1:1. Editorial prediction: Cyprus not to lose.
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Betting Tips: Latvia - Cyprus
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