Mārupe vs Rīgas FS II - 1. Liga

A fascinating 1. Liga chapter awaits on May 23, 2026 when Mārupe take on Rīgas FS II at the home ground — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. LIV Golf definitely changed the face of the professional game with the extortionate amounts of money that they pumped into the league.

Form and standings can only tell part of the story when Mārupe and Rīgas FS II cross paths in the 1. Liga, and pride alone should guarantee a contest. Mārupe have held their own of late, DW in their last five reflecting a steady win rate of 42.86%. Rīgas FS II are searching for answers away from home, L over their last five with a campaign win rate of 19.05%. The contrast in attacking output — 1.62 versus 1.62 goals per game — adds an extra layer of intrigue. Ipswich would be open to permanent offers for the winger, who has three years to run on his contract.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

Individual quality could tip the balance. The league's leading scorer Abdu Mandeke, with 2 goals to his name this season, is a reminder of the firepower on display. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. However, the Scotland striker has not hit the ground running in Govan and was on the bench for the 5-1 home League Cup win over St Mirren on Sunday, with midfielder Nico Raskin taking the armband.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 2-2 draw is easy to envisage. Whatever the outcome, the 1. Liga fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Liverpool's midfield wasn't great last year but I expect Florian Wirtz to have a better season, 100 per cent.