Gargždai “Banga” – Telšiai “Džiugas”. September 19, 14:15. Gargždai, Gargždai city stadium. Previous matches: 0:1, 1:0, 0:1.
The last Žemaitija derby of this season will be broadcast on the BTV channel.
Both teams approach the important match in an identical situation. Both “Banga” and “Džiugas” have 38 points each and have not won in the last four games. The Gargždai team has suffered painful defeats in front of their fans and will host an opponent who has not lost away in head-to-head matches since March 2023. “Banga” has weakened in midfield, and Simao Junior also left the last match under unpleasant circumstances. Another defeat would seriously complicate the team’s chances of fighting for at least 4th place.
As “Džiugas” and “Banga” drop points, competitors higher up the table have pulled away, and “Panevėžys,” who raised the level of play, has come within 6 points. The Telšiai club led by Andrius Lipskis missed the last round and had time to somewhat heal their wounds. However, more players able to play will only be available after the international break, as Valentino Vermeulenas and Iker Scotto will not play in Gargždai due to suspensions. Since summer, “Džiugas” has enjoyed only one away win, which was achieved in Šiauliai.
Vilnius district “TransINVEST” – Vilnius “Žalgiris”. September 19, 19:30. Galinė, FK “TransINVEST” stadium. Previous matches: 2:1, 1:0, 1:3.
The 32nd round will be highlighted by an intriguing duel between teams from Vilnius County.
The “TransINVEST” team recovered after a crushing home defeat to Marijampolė “Sūduva,” led by Xabi Auzmendi, they won in Gargždai and secured 4th place with 42 points. For this position to matter for next season’s international competitions, “Kauno Žalgiris” must win the LFF Cup final, but even without this scenario, the Vilnius district team is capable of taking a prize place.
At first glance, it seems that the fight will be precisely with the direct competitor for bronze – a win would allow overtaking them. To have the final advantage in all head-to-head matches, a draw would also suffice.
After suffering a painful blow in Panevėžys, the Vilnius team showed good defense twice and this week, thanks to productive offense, defeated the champion at home. However, to overtake one of the two leading clubs, it is necessary to collect wins and wait for opponents to slip up. This weekend, such a scenario is quite uncertain – both opponents will play away against the two last teams in the championship. The central defender Petar Bosančić will miss the match due to suspension, and he should be replaced by Romanian Grigore Turda, who has hardly played in the last month.
Kaunas district “Hegelmann” – Marijampolė “Sūduva”. September 20, 14:15. Raudondvaris, Raudondvaris stadium. Previous matches: 0:0, 2:2, 1:5.
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How the Marijampolė team will manage to stay at the top of the Toplyga can be seen by watching the broadcast on the BTV channel.
In mid-July, it was precisely in the match against “Sūduva” that the Kaunas district club suffered one of the biggest defeats in its entire league history, so motivation for revenge will not be lacking. The table situation is calm: a draw on Sunday and a loss for Šiauliai would mean that “Hegelmann” players will enter the international break knowing they will not have to play relegation matches. However, the hosts, who have been fighting successfully at Raudondvaris stadium for some time, have not won since early May and will seek victory without the suspended Isaac Barry Ojumah.
“Sūduva,” aiming for gold, received a favorable result in the capital midweek and maintained a point lead over “Kauno Žalgiris.” Donatas Vencevičius’s team is a clear favorite in the duel, but the blue-whites have never been particularly convenient opponents for “Sūduva.” Since 2021, “Sūduva” has managed to beat “Hegelmann” away only twice. The last match against “Žalgiris” caused concern as Henry Uzochukwu was substituted due to injury just before the end of the first half. If the Nigerian does not appear on the field, it is likely we will see Serbian Aleksandar Živanović return to the starting lineup.
“Šiauliai” – “Kauno Žalgiris”. September 20, 16:00. Šiauliai, Šiauliai municipality stadium. Previous matches: 0:5, 0:0, 0:4.
Kaunas will end a very intense period with a match in the City of the Sun.
“Šiauliai” may not yet know their final position in the table before the international break, but to hope for a miracle, they need all four “Hegelmann” losses and to win three matches. Šiauliai have won the same number of matches in the 28 games played so far.
With improved defense under Dovydas Lastauskas, “Kauno Žalgiris” has already faced this in the LFF Cup semifinal, but the depleted “Šiauliai” team eagerly awaits the international break to regroup and fight with returning players in the crucial November matches.
“Kauno Žalgiris” missed the chance to overtake the league leader – after losing in Vilnius, they are one point behind “Sūduva.” The champions’ defense cracked in the capital, and for the first time this season in Toplyga, three goals were conceded. Coach Željko Sopić will have to field another Lithuanian in the starting lineup as Rokas Lekiatas will miss the match due to suspension against his former team. “Kauno Žalgiris” extended their unbeaten streak in head-to-head matches in the Lithuanian championship to eight – dropping points would be a huge surprise.
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