Lithuania welcome Kosovo to Darius and Girenas Stadium in Kaunas for a UEFA Nations League encounter on Saturday afternoon.
While the hosts sit rock bottom in League C Group 2 without a single point after two matches, the visitors are three points better off in second place.
Match preview
© Imago
After narrowly avoiding relegation from League C in the previous Nations League campaign, courtesy of a playoff win over Gibraltar, Lithuania are already facing an uphill battle to survive the drop this time around after losing their opening two matches.
A narrow 1-0 home defeat to Cyprus last month was followed three days later by a 3-1 away loss against Romania. Edgaras Jankauskas's were seemingly on course to claim a share of the spoils until Romania scored in the 87th and 92nd minutes to snatch all three points.
Ranked 139th in the world by FIFA - the eighth-lowest ranked nation in Europe - Lithuania have won only four of their last 16 international games since Jankauskas was reappointed head coach in January 2023, losing eight and drawing the remaining four.
Returning to winning ways on Saturday is not a given for Lithuania, who have only come out on top in two of their last 14 home matches across the last three years, while they suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in their only previous meeting with Kosovo in March 2021.
Like Lithuania, Kosovo were beaten in their opening Nations League fixture, losing 3-0 at home to Romania, but they ended a three-game losing streak without reply by thumping Cyprus 4-0 on the road on matchday two.
A brace from all-time leading goalscorer Vedat Muriqi - who now has 28 international goals to his name - and strikes from Albion Rrahmani and Lumbardh Dellova helped the Dardanians secure their biggest international victory in over two years.
That triumph represents the second victory in five matches across all competitions since the arrival of head coach Franco Foda in February, and Kosovo currently sit second in League C Group 2, three points behind leaders Romania.
Ranked 104th in the world by FIFA, Kosovo are seeking to match or better their efforts in the previous Nations League campaign when they accumulated nine points from six League C matches. Victory on Saturday would take them two-thirds of the way there with three games still remaining, including a clash with Cyprus on home soil next Tuesday.
Team News
© Imago
After earning 43 caps over a nine-year period, Lithuania defender Linas Klimavicius has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 35.
Rokas Lekiatas and Edvinas Girdvainis are set to continue at centre-back as a result, while Modestas Vorobjovas and Giedrius Matulevicius could link arms in centre-midfield.
Fedor Cernych has been recalled for this month's international break and the 93-cap winger, who has scored more goals (15) than any of his teammates in the current squad, will be pushing to start in attack alongside Armandas Kucys.
As for Kosovo, FC Koln defender Leart Paqarada and Dinamo Bucuresti forward Astrit Selmani have both withdrawn from the squad due to injury, while leading marksman Vedat Muriqi is also sidelined.
Albion Rrahmani may be tasked with leading the line in the absence of Muriqi and could be supported in attack by Milot Rashica and Ermal Krasniqi.
Mergim Vojvoda is available to return after serving a one-match ban and he is expected to start at right-back at the expense of Florent Hadergjonaj.
Lithuania possible starting lineup:
Gertmonas; Sirvys, Lekiatas, Girdvainis, Tutyskinas; Vorobjovas, Matulevicius; Dolznikov, Slivka, Cernych; Kucys
Kosovo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Vojvoda, Am. Rrahmani, Aliti, Rrudhani; Rexhbecaj, Zhegrova, V. Berisha; Rashica; Al. Rrahmani, Krasniqi
We say: Lithuania 0-2 Kosovo
Both nations will view this fixture as a must-win game if they are to mount a serious challenge for League C promotion. Kosovo may be without their top scorer Muriqi, but they should still have enough quality in the final third to get the better of Lithuania.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
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