Heerenveen face tricky trip
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Team Stat Comparison
|
|
FK Ventspils
|
Heerenveen
|
|
Matches Played
|
6
|
6
|
|
Table Position
|
4
|
3
|
|
Points
|
3
|
8
|
|
Goal Difference
|
-7
|
4
|
|
Goals for
*
|
0.3
|
0.7
|
|
Goals against
*
|
1.0
|
0.3
|
|
Last 5
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L-L-D-L-D
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W-D-L-W-D
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|
Last 5 home
|
L-L-D
|
W-L-L-D
|
|
Last 5 away
|
L-D-D
|
D-W-D-D
|
|
*
Goals per match - home matches for home club and away matches for away club
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|
·
Club Stats:
FK Ventspils
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Heerenveen
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Updated: September 30, 2009, 1:48 PM UK
Heerenveen will travel to face Latvian champions FK Ventspils looking to bounce back from their home defeat by Sporting Lisbon in the previous round of Europa League matches on Thursday night.
The Dutch team's season spluttered into life at the weekend when they claimed only their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory at Sparta Rotterdam.
However, they will face a tough test in Riga after Ventspils secured a 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin in the first round of games.
The teams have never met before although Heerenveen have previously played a Latvian outfit, losing at Metalurgs in the Intertoto Cup in 2001.
It is a tough assignment for the Eredivisie side who fill face a team that are high on confidence following their result in Germany in Group D.
Interim manager Jan de Jonge is adamant he wants to focus solely on Heerenveen rather than have their approach dictated by the opposition.
He told the club's official website: "It is not about how strong or weak Ventspils are.
"What is important on Thursday is whether we reach our top level.
"If we play well and and do what we must do then we will create opportunities against any team, even against a strong team like Sporting Lisbon.
"This is the stage where you have to perform.''
The hosts will be hoping to take advantage of a passionate crowd after the game was moved to Skonto Riga's ground because Ventspils' failed to comply with UEFA's requirements.
Although the Skonto Stadium has a capacity of 8,300 there is expected to be a crowd of around 6,000.
De Jonge has question marks over defensive duo Goran Popov (foot) and Kristian Bak-Nielsen (groin and back) although they are expected to be fit.
As a precaution both Richard Stolte and Bart de Groot have travelled while all three goalkeepers are in Latvia.
Ventspils currently head the Virsliga on goal difference from Metalurgs and they have not conceded a goal since their draw in Berlin, winning all three games.
In fact, their last league defeat came against Metalurgs at the end of August which followed their failure to qualify for the Champions League after defeat by FC Zurich.
FK Ventspils 0 - 0 Heerenveen