Harutyunyan named player of the match: Armenia’s statistics from the win over Latvia

Armenia opened their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign with a 2–0 victory over Latvia. Georgiy Harutyunyan broke the deadlock in the 31st minute from an Eduard Spertsyan delivery, before substitute Artur Gharibyan doubled the lead in the 75th minute from a Zhirayr Shaghoyan assist.

Harutyunyan received the highest Sofascore rating of any player on either team: 8.6. In addition to scoring his first international goal, the defender made three key passes, completed a team-high 76 passes at 94% accuracy and recorded two interceptions.

Who created the chances?

Spertsyan made four key passes, Harutyunyan three, and Nair Tiknizyan and Narek Hovhannisyan two each. Shaghoyan and Artyom Bandikyan contributed one apiece. Spertsyan, Tiknizyan and Shaghoyan each created one big chance.

Four Armenia players registered a shot on target: Harutyunyan, Gharibyan, Edgar Sevikyan and Artur Serobyan, with one each. Harutyunyan and Hovhannisyan each missed one big chance.

According to the supplied statistics, Armenia’s total expected goals figure was 1.12 xG. Gharibyan had the highest individual xG (0.30), followed by Hovhannisyan (0.29) and Harutyunyan (0.28). Next were Serobyan (0.10), Spertsyan (0.08), Sevikyan (0.05) and Julio Bueno (0.03). The small difference between the sum of the individual figures and the team total is due to rounding.

Passing, defending and physical performance

After Harutyunyan, Armenia’s passing leaders were Erik Piloyan with 67 passes at 86% accuracy and Spertsyan with 50 at 91%.

Shaghoyan and Piloyan made the most tackles, with three each. Ugochukwu Iwu and Serobyan made two apiece. Shaghoyan led the team with five duels won, while Piloyan won all four of his duels.

Tiknizyan covered the most ground at 10.6 km. Spertsyan and Iwu each ran 10.5 km, while Bandikyan covered 10.1 km. Tiknizyan also recorded Armenia’s highest top speed at 33.6 km/h, followed by Shaghoyan (31.7 km/h), and Bandikyan and Hovhannisyan (31.3 km/h each).

Armenia player statistics against Latvia

• Goals: Georgiy Harutyunyan and Artur Garibyan — one each.

• Assists: Eduard Spertsyan and Zhirayr Shaghoyan — one each.

• Shots on target: Harutyunyan, Gharibyan, Edgar Sevikyan and Artur Serobyan — one each.

• Big chances created: Spertsyan, Tiknizyan and Shaghoyan — one each.

• Big chances missed: Harutyunyan and Narek Hovhannisyan — one each.

• Key passes: Spertsyan — 4; Harutyunyan — 3; Tiknizyan and Hovhannisyan — 2 each; Shaghoyan and Artyom Bandikyan — 1 each.

• Most passes: Harutyunyan — 76 (94% accurate); Erik Piloyan — 67 (86%); Spertsyan — 50 (91%).

• Tackles: Shaghoyan and Piloyan — 3 each; Ugochukwu Iwu and Serobyan — 2 each.

• Interceptions: Harutyunyan and Serobyan — 2 each.

• Duels won: Shaghoyan — 5; Piloyan — 4 out of 4; Iwu, Serobyan, Tiknizyan and Hovhannisyan — 3 each.

• Most distance covered: Tiknizyan — 10.6 km; Spertsyan and Iwu — 10.5 km each; Bandikyan — 10.1 km.

• Top speed: Tiknizyan — 33.6 km/h; Shaghoyan — 31.7 km/h; Bandikyan and Hovhannisyan — 31.3 km/h each.

Shaghoyan’s introduction in the 60th minute was particularly effective. In roughly half an hour, he assisted Gharibyan, created a big chance, made three tackles and won five duels — more than any other Armenia player. His top speed was 31.7 km/h.

Armenia vs Latvia: overall match statistics

According to UEFA, Armenia held the advantage in most attacking categories:

Latvia covered 3.6 km more, but Armenia attacked more often and used the ball more effectively. The hosts attempted 506 passes, 454 of which found their target.

Armenia’s next match is against Montenegro in Yerevan on September 28. Julio Bueno will miss the game through injury after being substituted at half-time against Latvia.