Match Overview
Romania will travel to Kaunas on Tuesday to take on Lithuania in the UEFA Nations League as the leaders of League C Group 2 aim to continue their perfect record. Meanwhile, bottom-placed Lithuania will hope to turn their fortunes around and pick up their first points of the campaign.
Match Preview
Romania come into this clash sitting comfortably at the top of Group 2 with three wins from three games. Their most recent victory, a 3-0 win over Cyprus, showcased their attacking prowess with first-half goals from Dennis Man, Razvan Marin, and Radu Dragusin. Since the appointment of veteran coach Mircea Lucescu in the summer, Romania have maintained their momentum following their Euro 2024 campaign, where they reached the knockout stages.
Under Lucescu, the Tricolorii have been formidable, particularly in away games. They have now won their last two away fixtures in the Nations League, reinforcing their bid for promotion to League B. With history on their side—Romania have won all six of their previous meetings with Lithuania—they will be confident of securing another three points.
In contrast, Lithuania find themselves at the bottom of Group 2, having lost all three of their matches so far. Their latest defeat came against Kosovo, where they lost 2-1 despite a late surge. Edgaras Jankauskas’ side faces a tough battle to avoid relegation, having narrowly escaped the drop in the 2022-23 Nations League. With just four wins from 17 matches since Jankauskas’ return to the national team in 2023, Lithuania will need to significantly improve if they are to challenge Romania.
Recent Form
– Lithuania (Nations League): Lost 2-1 vs. Kosovo, Lost 3-1 vs. Romania, Lost 1-0 vs. Cyprus.
– Romania (Nations League): Won 3-0 vs. Cyprus, Won 3-1 vs. Lithuania, Won 3-0 vs. Kosovo.
Team News
Romania coach Mircea Lucescu may choose to rotate his squad for this match against weaker opposition. However, key players like Razvan Marin, who has been excellent in midfield, will likely retain their starting spots. Denis Dragus is expected to lead the attack in Romania’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, supported by Dennis Man and Valentin Mihaila. Veteran goalkeeper Florin Nita is set to continue in goal.
For Lithuania, Paulius Golubickas, who scored as a substitute in their last game, will be pushing for a starting spot alongside experienced forward Fedor Cernych. Armandas Kucys is likely to continue leading the line despite their struggles up front.
Possible Lineups
Lithuania:
– Formation: 4-2-3-1
– Starting XI: Gertmonas; Sirvys, Kazukolovas, Girdvainis, Tutyskinas; Vorobjovas, Gineitis; Dolznikov, Slivka, Cernych; Kucys
Romania:
– Formation: 4-3-3
– Starting XI: Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; R. Marin, M. Marin, Stanciu; Man, Dragus, Mihaila
Romania, buoyed by their excellent form and superior squad quality, are expected to dominate this fixture. Lithuania’s poor defensive record and inability to pick up points suggest that they will struggle to keep pace with their high-flying opponents. Romania should comfortably secure another victory and move closer to promotion to League B.
Final Prediction: Lithuania 0-3 Romania
