Nations League: Armenia finish in Riga against Latvia on Sunday 15 November
- Published
- Place
- Riga
- Event date
- Upcoming event —
Summary
Armenia play their final Nations League match on Sunday 15 November in Riga, against Latvia. Kick-off is at 18:00 Yerevan time, 15:00 in Paris, at the Skonto Stadium. Yeghishe Melikyan’s side flew to Latvia on Friday with 23 players. In Group C2, Armenia are third with 5 points, well behind Montenegro (13) and Cyprus (8), but ahead of Latvia (1). That third place is now secured, whatever the result. So the stakes lie elsewhere: ending the campaign with a win, and finally recording one away from home. In the first leg, on 25 September in Yerevan, Armenia beat Latvia 2-0. It remains their only win of the campaign.
The team arrives in Riga after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Cyprus on Thursday in Yerevan. Artur Gharibyan equalised in the second half, and two other Armenian goals were disallowed.
The campaign record is thin: one win, two draws and two defeats, five goals scored and six conceded. Away from home, Armenia lost 2-0 in Cyprus and drew 0-0 in Montenegro.
Just one win in 2026
The calendar year has been just as difficult. Before the Nations League, Armenia lost 2-1 to Belarus in March, then drew 1-1 with Kazakhstan and Moldova in June, in friendlies. Out of eight matches in 2026, the team has won only once: against Latvia, as it happens.
Playmaker Eduard Spertsyan, injured, is still missing. He was not called up for the campaign’s last two matches.
Third place already secured
The arithmetic is simple. Latvia, fourth on 1 point, can no longer overtake Armenia. And even with a win, Armenia could only draw level with Cyprus on 8 points: the Cypriots would stay ahead on head-to-head results, a 2-0 win and a 1-1 draw.
Latvia’s record is even heavier: no wins, one draw and four defeats, three goals scored and eight conceded.
Yeghishe Melikyan’s squad
The 23-man list published by the Football Federation of Armenia includes three goalkeepers: Ognjen Čančarević, Aleksandr Mishiev and Gor Matinyan. Up front are Artur Serobyan, Artur Miranyan, Hrant-Leon Ranos and Artur Gharibyan, Thursday’s scorer.
In midfield are Karen Muradyan, Narek Grigoryan and Edgar Sevikyan, among others. In defence, Georgiy Harutyunyan, Styopa Mkrtchyan, Erik Piloyan and Nair Tiknizyan made the trip.
Analysis
This match will not change the standings, but it matters. After a disappointing campaign, a win in Riga would give Yeghishe Melikyan a first away victory and some breathing room. A poor result against the group’s bottom side, on the other hand, would revive criticism. The first leg showed that Armenia have what it takes to beat this Latvia side. They now need to prove it far from Yerevan, where the team often struggles to impose its game.
Possible consequences
Kick-off on Sunday 15 November at 18:00 (Yerevan), 15:00 (Paris), at the Skonto Stadium in Riga.
