Ħamrun Spartans have departed Malta on a direct flight to Riga ahead of Thursday’s decisive UEFA Europa Conference League play-off second leg against RFS. The match kicks off at 7pm at LNK Sporta Parks.
The stakes could not be higher. Victory over the Latvian side would send the Spartans into the main phase of the Conference League, the first stage after the play-offs. No Maltese club has ever reached this stage, so progress would be a landmark moment for Maltese football.
The Spartans carry a slender advantage after winning the first leg 1–0 in Malta, thanks to a composed finish from 21-year-old Italian forward Saliou Thioune. The champions will now look to defend that lead and finish the job in Riga.
Two seasons ago, in 2022–23, Ħamrun reached this same play-off round but were eliminated by Serbian side Partizan on a 7–4 aggregate. That experience underlines both the progress made and the challenge that remains to break new ground.
Adding to the occasion, numerous supporters have travelled to Riga to stand behind the Spartans, gathering on Thursday night to be close to their idols and set the tone for a special European evening.
Malta Sport, through its journalist Rowen Camilleri, will be on the ground and will continue to bring you regular updates, interviews and behind-the-scenes insight from Riga, just as we have done from the very start of Ħamrun Spartans’ European adventure.
