Preview: FK Zalgiris vs. FC Pyunik - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are second in the group on four points, while the home side currently sit bottom and have just one point at this stage.

Match preview

Zalgiris are yet to score a goal in the Europa Conference League so far this season, drawing 0-0 to Slovan Bratislava and falling to a 1-0 defeat against FC Basel in their two opening games.

To make things worse, Zalgiris then came up short against FC Pyunik in their away trip to Yerevan last week, losing 2-0 at the Republican Stadium and only managing one shot on target in the whole match.

The result means that The Green Whites are in desperate need of a win to keep any hopes of qualifying for the next round alive, currently trailing both FC Basel and Pyunik by five points.

Vladimir Cheburin's side were heavy favourites going into their game at the weekend against Jonava, and delivered what was expected of them, completing a 4-0 rout on the road to remain way out in front at the top of the A Lyga.

Currently top of the league by nine points and also having five games in hand, the Lithuanian side have been formidable in domestic action so far this season, but they will need to quickly transfer this form to Europe starting on Thursday, especially with a tricky away trip to FC Basel still left to go.

Pyunik are two points clear of Slovan Bratislava in Group H, notching consecutive 2-0 home wins against Slovan Bratislava and Zalgiris to give themselves a decent chance of qualifying for the next round.

However, after the important result against Zalgiris last week, Pyunik fell to a disappointing 1-0 loss away at FC Ararat in the league, a match that they really should have been winning.

The defeat was a second in three games for the reigning Armenian champions, who are now fourth in their domestic league, seven points off Urartu who are currently setting the pace in first.

Away form will now be a concern for manager Eghishe Melikyan, with his side having lost their last five games on the road in all competitions, a run stretching back to a victory against F91 Dudelange in late July.

However, having consistently punched above their weight in Europe so far this season, Pyunik will head to Zalgiris with confidence that they can get a second win in the space of a week against the Lithuanian side, a result that could take them to the top of Group H.

FK Zalgiris Europa Conference League form:

D

L

L

FK Zalgiris form (all competitions):

D

L

D

D

L

L

FC Pyunik Europa Conference League form:

L

W

W

FC Pyunik form (all competitions):

L

D

L

L

W

W

Team News

Renan Oliveira is the top scorer in the A Lyga this season with 15 goals, and is set to start up front for Zalgiris again on Thursday having been withdrawn early at the weekend to keep him fresh.

Francis Kyeremeh impressed at the weekend playing on the right, in behind Oliveira in a 3-4-2-1 system, and is set to start again, with Donatas Kazlauskas set to keep his place on the left.

Central midfield pair Fabien Ourega and Marko Milickovic were also brought off early on Sunday, and are likely to start, having both been in good form this season.

Dinmukhammed Kashken may be the preferred choice in defence after starting for the first time in eight games last time out, and keeping a clean sheet in an impressive display.

Long-term absentee Zoran Gajic is still unavailable for Pyunik, with the Serbian defender being sidelined since picking up a knee injury against Sheriff Tiraspol in August.

Alexander Miljkovic also misses out after picking up a yellow card last week, meaning he will have to serve a one-game suspension.

Elsewhere, Yusuf Otubanjo is poised to get the nod on the right side of the attack, having scored in his last four outings, and netting the second goal against Zalgiris last week.

Venezuelan midfielder Alexander Gonzalez also looks like a certain starter, with two goals and an assist in his last three outings, and particularly impressing in the reverse fixture between the two sides.

FK Zalgiris possible starting lineup:

Gertmonas; Kashken, Mamic, Bopesu; Buff, Gorobsov, Milickovic, Ourega; Kyeremeh, Kazlauskas, Oliveira

FC Pyunik possible starting lineup:

Yurchenko; Baranov, Juninho, Braktov, Vakulenko; Dashyan, Gonzalez, Cociuc; Otubanjo, Juricic, Diop

We say: FK Zalgiris 1-0 FC Pyunik

Zalgiris are in desperate need of a win, and we back them to do just enough to get their first Europa Conference League victory this season.

Pyunik have struggled away from home in recent times, and they will find it tough going to a ground where the home side very rarely lose.

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