Match Overview
Lithuania will host Kosovo at the Darius and Girenas Stadium in Kaunas for a UEFA Nations League clash on Saturday afternoon. The hosts currently sit at the bottom of League C Group 2 without any points from their two matches, while Kosovo is in second place, three points ahead.
Match Preview
Lithuania, under head coach Edgaras Jankauskas, is struggling after narrowly avoiding relegation in the last Nations League campaign. They lost their opening matches this season, falling 1-0 to Cyprus at home and suffering a last-minute 3-1 defeat to Romania, where they conceded twice in the final minutes.
Currently ranked 139th in the world by FIFA, Lithuania has only won four of their last 16 matches since Jankauskas’s reappointment in January 2023, with eight losses and four draws. They have a poor record at home, winning just two of their last 14 matches over the past three years, and suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Kosovo in their only previous meeting in March 2021.
In contrast, Kosovo started their Nations League campaign with a disappointing 3-0 loss to Romania but bounced back with a commanding 4-0 victory against Cyprus. This impressive performance included a brace from Vedat Muriqi, who is Kosovo’s all-time leading goalscorer, as well as goals from Albion Rrahmani and Lumbardh Dellova. Ranked 104th in the world, Kosovo is aiming to build on their previous Nations League performance, where they secured nine points from six matches.
Team News
Lithuania faces a defensive reshuffle following the retirement of experienced defender Linas Klimavicius. Rokas Lekiatas and Edvinas Girdvainis are likely to continue in central defense. In midfield, Modestas Vorobjovas and Giedrius Matulevicius are expected to partner up, while Fedor Cernych could start in attack alongside Armandas Kucys.
For Kosovo, head coach Franco Foda will have to cope without leading goalscorer Vedat Muriqi, as well as FC Koln defender Leart Paqarada and Dinamo Bucuresti forward Astrit Selmani, both of whom have withdrawn due to injury. Albion Rrahmani may lead the line in Muriqi’s absence, supported by Milot Rashica and Ermal Krasniqi. Mergim Vojvoda returns from a one-match suspension and is expected to start at right-back.
Possible Lineups
Lithuania:
– Formation: 4-2-3-1
– Starting XI: Gertmonas; Sirvys, Lekiatas, Girdvainis, Tutyskinas; Vorobjovas, Matulevicius; Dolznikov, Slivka, Cernych; Kucys
Kosovo:
– Formation: 4-2-3-1
– Starting XI: Muric; Vojvoda, Am. Rrahmani, Aliti, Rrudhani; Rexhbecaj, Zhegrova, V. Berisha; Rashica; Al. Rrahmani, Krasniqi
Both teams view this encounter as a must-win if they hope to mount a serious challenge for promotion in League C. Despite the absence of Muriqi, Kosovo is expected to have enough quality to secure a victory against Lithuania, who are struggling for form. A close match is anticipated, but Kosovo’s recent resurgence and overall squad depth may give them the edge in this contest.
