On January 30, 2025, Dinamo Kiev will take on RFS Riga at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany, marking the final match of the Europa League group stage for both teams.<\/p>
Currently, neither team has any shot at advancing to the knockout rounds, with Dinamo Kiev sitting at the bottom of the table with just one point, following their disappointing run this season. They managed to secure their first point only last week, drawing 3-3 against Galatasaray after trailing at one point by two goals. This result broke their streak of six consecutive losses, but their overall performance still leaves much to be desired, with coach Olexandr Shovkovskyi expressing frustration over their inability to secure wins. Indeed, Dinamo had not tasted victory in any of their 15 previous Europa League matches, accumulating two draws and 13 losses—a clear sign of the team's struggles throughout the tournament, as noted by local sports news reports.
RFS Riga, on the other hand, has had slightly more success, currently positioned 30th with five points. Their most recent match saw them pull off a surprising victory over Ajax, beating them 1-0 at home. This triumph was particularly uplifting, considering they had struggled beforehand, suffering four losses and two draws prior to this matchup. Analyst commentary has highlighted this achievement as a strong point for the Latvian side, providing them with some momentum as they prepare to face Dinamo.
Both teams will enter this match with motivation derived not only from pride but also from the importance of finishing the group stage positively. For Dinamo, the notion of finally securing a win becomes imperative. The team's performance has been marked by defensive frailty, having conceded 18 goals already—more than any other team in the group stage. Their offensive issues are just as concerning, with the squad failing to score in six of their last eight matches. They will miss key players such as Denis Popov due to injury, which only adds to their woes.
Meanwhile, RFS must also contend with absences, as they will be without Ismael Diomande and Martins Kigurs, both sidelined due to injury. Despite these challenges, their recent win provides them with confidence. RFS has performed decently at home but struggled away, where they’ve lost all three of their previous matches this group stage.
Betting odds reflect the basic premise of the match. Dinamo Kiev is considered the favorite, with their odds around 1.85 for victory against RFS’s odds of 4.30. A draw is set at 3.75. Wagers on total goals expect at least two scored, with odds for over 2.5 goals at 1.77 compared to under 2.5 goals at 2.12.
Fans can catch the action live via streaming services like OKKO, with the kickoff set for 23:00 Moscow time. This match not only wraps up the group stage but also gives both teams the chance to showcase their talents and end their European campaigns on a high note.
With both clubs having little to lose, speculation suggests the match could be fairly open, though neither side can afford to underestimate the other. Expect both teams to press forward, especially Dinamo, who will be eager to demonstrate their attacking prowess after their recent struggles.
The outcome of this encounter will be highly anticipated and will leave fans hoping for either team to redeem their unfortunate tournaments with even just one more successful performance.