RIGA — Ventspils must win their UEFA Europa League fixture when they take on FC Hertha Berlin on Thursday evening.

Victory will see them keep their hopes of advancing alive, and having already met group leaders Sporting Club de Portugal twice, they are arguably the team in the best position to join Sporting in the next round.

However, assuming Sporting defeat Heenrenveen in the other group D fixture and if Ventspils were to lose then it would be Hertha who would be assured of a spot in the next round.

Playing into Ventspils advantage is the fact that Hertha have been one of the under-performing teams in the Bundesliga this season, currently languishing at the foot of the table. Ventspils can also take plenty out of the fact that they are the only team in their pool to come away from Portugal with a point to date.

Playing against them is the fact that of recent they have little football under their belt, with their domestic season ending almost a month ago and only one game in the Triobet Baltic League since. It hardly signals the perfect warm-up. Also, the Latvians are yet to win a game outright in this campaign to date, having recorded three draws and a loss. If they are to remain in contention, they must record a victory, placing extra  pressure on them.

balticreports.com prediction: Ventspils need to salvage something from their season that has promised so much but has delivered below par to date. They will take this at home 2-1.