FA „Šiauliai“ – Marijampolės „Sūduva“
August 30, 5 PM Šiauliai, Šiauliai Municipality Stadium. Previous matches: 0:0, 2:1, 1:2.
Memorable match for the new FA „Šiauliai“ coach Dovydas Lastauskas.
The team from the City of Sun ended a long losing streak against „Panevėžys“, but conceded three goals again at the back and did not get closer to the opponents occupying 7th–8th places. With seven matches left for Šiauliai, they are 7 points behind. This will serve as a kind of preparation for the upcoming most important match of the season – the LFF Cup semifinal clash with „Kauno Žalgiris“, which will take place on September 3. Two suspended players – Danielius Jarašius and Patrikas Pranckus – will miss the next match, but players recovering from injuries may return for this crucial period.
Marijampolė club, after a series of four wins with 42 points, has taken the lead and also leads in points lost. In the fight for the top places, even a draw in the City of Sun will be a disappointment. In summer, in a dramatic style, „Sūduva“ managed to end an eight-match losing streak in head-to-head encounters, but on the other hand, since 2022, FA „Šiauliai“ has been defeated away only once. Sunday offers perhaps the best chance to leave Šiauliai Municipality Stadium with a victory for the first time.
Gargždų „Banga“ – „Kauno Žalgiris“
August 30, 6:45 PM Gargždai, Gargždai City Stadium. Previous matches: 0:1, 2:2, 1:0.
The match, expected to attract a large crowd of fans, will be broadcast on the BTV channel.
„Banga“ unexpectedly and frustratingly dropped a couple of points in Raudondvaris and missed the chance to rise into the top three. Due to postponed matches, Gargždai have currently played the most away games, so the next four matches before the international break will be in front of their home fans. The season at Gargždai City Stadium has been quite up and down – after a poor start, there was a good run mid-season. Midfielder Dovydas Norvilas will not be able to help „Banga“ due to suspension.
The recent days have been truly memorable for „Kauno Žalgiris“. After a great home win against Istanbul’s „Beşiktaş“, the Conference League main stage draw was held, so Kaunas will continue international matches after nearly two months, with now a strong focus on the domestic front. The chasing champion will have to focus on a very intense schedule running until September 20. No one expects an easy fight: Kaunas have won only once in their last five trips to Gargždai, and this year the head-to-head results are identical.
„Panevėžys“ – Vilniaus „Žalgiris“
August 30, 7 PM Panevėžys, „Aukštaitija“ Stadium. Previous matches: 1:4, 2:1, 0:3.
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The Vilnius team will also face a not-so-easy trip to the capital of Aukštaitija.
Panevėžys started the fourth round with a loss, which, without a memorable surge from Šiauliai, could become a formality while waiting for the next season to start. The chances to catch at least one opponent from the top six are becoming more theoretical; the main race will be for 7th place with Kauno rajono „Hegelmann“. However, „Panevėžys“ has received several important players back for the upcoming matches. Since 2023, Panevėžys has lost only twice at home to the multiple Lithuanian champions.
In terms of the tournament table, Sunday’s match is much more important for „Žalgiris“. A win not achieved would not be too costly in the fight for places in next year’s international competitions, but aiming to reclaim gold and having beaten „Sūduva“ and „Kauno Žalgiris“, they would face a steep climb, as draws in head-to-head matches would not be the worst result for opponents. The Vilnius team approaches this tough match after a significant win against Telšių „Džiugas“, but two players are suspended – Jurijus Kendyšas and Matas Vareika.
Telšių „Džiugas“ – Kauno rajono „Hegelmann“
August 31, 6:45 PM Telšiai, Telšiai City Central Stadium. Previous matches: 1:1, 3:0, 1:1.
Monday – live broadcast on BTV channel from the capital of Samogitia.
Fighting fiercely for the historic chance to play in international competitions, „Džiugas“ has been collecting points less productively for a while – they will play against the blue and whites after two losses. „Džiugas“ will compete with a heavily depleted defense: due to suspensions, Jakubas Wawščykas and Valentino Vermeulenas will not step on the green field, while Bacary Sane and Džiugas Aleksa are recovering from injuries. Monday’s match could be the first chance for Milan Rutkovski to start from the first minutes. After a seven-match losing streak in head-to-head matches, the Samogitians have not been inferior to opponents three times in a row this year.
„Hegelmann“ club will arrive at perhaps their most favorable stadium, where since early 2021 they have lost only once – achieving many victories in TOPLYGA and enjoying memorable triumphs in the LFF Cup. However, in 2026 the blue and white situation has changed both in the tournament table and in away matches. The Kauno rajonas team has proven superiority at opponents’ stadiums only twice this year but comes after positive draws against „Banga“ a week ago. A win in Telšiai and a Šiauliai failure would significantly distance „Hegelmann“ from the relegation playoffs.
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