Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 17 July 2022, 08:48
After both edging through to the second qualifying round last week, Latvia's FK Zalgiris and Swedish counterparts Malmo meet in the first leg of their latest Champions League qualifying tie on Tuesday.

While the visitors came out on top in an enthralling tussle with Vikingur - winning 6-5 on aggregate - it took their hosts an intense period of extra time to see off Kosovan champions KF Ballkani.

Match preview

Having traded goals in the opening half-hour of their first leg, Zalgiris and Ballkani then went over two hours of football without either side finding a decisive goal in their first round tie.

Eventually, though, the A Lyga champions managed to steal a place in the next stage of Champions League qualifying, as Nigerian striker Mathias Oyewusi struck in the seventh minute of extra time at LFF Stadium.

Zalgiris are now targeting a first-ever group stage qualification, having won the Lithuanian league title for the ninth time last season, and hope to fare better than their attempt this time last year.

The Vilnius outfit were eliminated in the second qualifying round, before losing in the third round of the Europa League preliminaries and then to Bodo/Glimt in the playoffs for entry to the inaugural Europa Conference League.

Twelve months on, in defence of their domestic crown, Vladimir Cheburin's side have racked up 41 points from 18 league games to sit top of the table by two points, with two games in hand.

Their most recent fixtures have been postponed, to allow them to concentrate on European engagements, but Cheburin had steered his team to four straight A Lyga wins before the meeting with Ballkani. In the Champions League, however, Zalgiris are owners of a past record that includes 11 defeats and just six wins from 20 matches.

Malmo, meanwhile, reconvened with Vikingur for the away leg of their first round tie last Tuesday, following an explosive encounter back in Sweden.

The Allsvenskan champions led 3-2 from their first leg clash at Eleda Stadion, having struggled to see off 10-man opponents, and a similarly open contest was in store at Reykjavik's Vikingsvollur.

After opening up a three-goal advantage through first-half strikes from Veljko Birmancevic, Felix Beijmo and captain Anders Christiansen, Malmo allowed their hosts to sneak back into contention, before holding on for a 3-3 draw on the night.

Milos Milojevic's side then returned to playing catch-up in the defence of their domestic title, and they are within three points of the Allsvenskan summit following Saturday's 2-0 win at Norkopping.

It has not been plain sailing since Milojevic took the reins from former coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, who led the club to successive league titles and last year's Champions League group stage before departing for Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

Di Blae seem to be running into some hot goalscoring form, though, and having netted at least twice in six of their last seven competitive matches they will be confident of taking a lead back home on Tuesday.

FK Zalgiris Champions League form:

FK Zalgiris form (all competitions):

Malmo Champions League form:

Malmo form (all competitions):

Team News

Zalgiris are likely to replicate the 4-4-2 setup they deployed in the previous round, with Swiss midfielder Oliver Buff given license to link up with the hosts' front two.

There is strong competition for the strikers' spots in Vladimir Cheburin's first XI, and Renan Oliveira is set to continue alongside either Josip Tadic, Marko Milickovic or last week's hero Mathias Oyewusi.

The former has scored eight times in 13 appearances for the club since signing on loan from Ukraine's Kolos Kovalivka, having also spent time in Slovakia and Malta.

Meanwhile, Malmo's new acquisitions Moustafa Zeidan and Mahame Siby both made promising debuts on Saturday, forming a new three-man midfield alongside Peru's Sergio Pena against Norkopping.

Though captain Andreas Christiansen was rested at the weekend, the Denmark international is likely to be brought back in for Champions League duty, but speedy winger Joseph Ceesay - signed from Lechia Gdansk earlier this month - could retain his place.

Both mainstays of the visitors' recent successes, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Croatian striker Antonio Colak have moved to British clubs over the past few days, while Soren Rieks, Oscar Lewicki and Adi Nalic are all sidelined by injury.

In Colak's absence, Isaac Kiese Thelin and Veljko Birmancevic will carry the can up front - the latter has posted three goals and as many assists from 13 Allsvenskan appearances this season.

FK Zalgiris possible starting lineup:

Gertmonas; Mikoliunas, Pavelic, Ljubisavljevic, Mamic; Kyeremeh, Gorobsov, Buff, Ourega; Oliveira, Milickovic

Malmo possible starting lineup:

Dahlin; Beijmo, Hadzikadunic, Moisander, Olsson; Christiansen, Pena; Ceesay, Zeidan, Birmancevic; Thelin

We say: FK Zalgiris 1-2 Malmo

Despite losing Antonio Colak to Rangers, there is no doubt Malmo still pack a punch in the final third, and they are capable of scoring more than once in Vilnius.

Though in good form, Zalgiris may be found out at this stage of qualifying, with their latest visitors - group stage participants last term - representing a significant step up in class.

Previews by email

Top News

23 November 2024 talksport.com Chelsea may forcing themselves into the title race, but Troy Deeney believes a glaring issue 'is going to cost them' down the track. 23 November 2024 talksport.com A former Aston Villa captain is set to become an MLS manager this week. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City have lost their fifth consecutive game in all competitions after suffering a chastening 4-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 23 November 2024 talksport.com A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham wasn't what Pep Guardiola had in mind when it came to celebrating his new Manchester City contract. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Senior figures at Manchester United have allegedly concluded that Joshua Zirkzee 'is not good enough', with the club having 'serious doubts' when it comes to the Netherlands international. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola has made unwanted history after Manchester City fell two goals behind after 20 minutes in their 4-0 defeat to Tottenham. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has hinted that Marcus Rashford will have an important role to play under him, with the Portuguese insisting that the attacker can play in all three positions in the final third of the field. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester City's clash with Tottenham kicked off late after Rodri's Ballon d'Or presentation. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fenerbahce head coach Jose Mourinho has reportedly made contact with legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo to discuss a possible move for the Al-Nassr star next year. 23 November 2024 talksport.com A frustrated Leicester City boss Steve Cooper confirmed he will write to the PGMOL after his side's 2-1 loss to Chelsea. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to make it successive victories in La Liga when they continue their 2024-25 campaign with a clash against newly-promoted Leganes on Sunday night. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Ethan Nwaneri became Arsenal's second youngest goalscorer in the Premier League in a dominant 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Joao Pedro was the star of the show as ten-man Brighton & Hove Albion recorded a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in Saturday's Premier League contest at the Vitality Stadium. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Crystal Palace in Saturday afternoon's pulsating Premier League contest at Villa Park. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal snapped their four-game Premier League winless streak in Mikel Arteta's 250th match in charge of the club as they earned a comfortable 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford picked up their first Premier League away point of the season at the sixth attempt as the 10-man Bees held a wasteful Everton to a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has explained how he wants Enzo Fernandez to adapt his game to fit seamlessly into his preferred system. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made a total of three changes to his starting lineup for this evening's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Portsmouth's trip to Blackburn was postponed less than four hours before kick-off on Saturday. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Sheffield United's Anel Ahmedhodzic was sent off after grabbing the throat of Coventry City forward Norman Bassette. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Ajax defender Devyne Rensch next summer, with the Netherlands international potentially being available on a free transfer. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has reportedly agreed to sign a new long-term deal when he turns 18 next year. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that the club will not make any firm plans when it comes to the January transfer window until after their clash with Sevilla on December 22. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Fernandez marked his return to the starting XI with a goal and an assist as Chelsea ran out deserved 2-1 winners over Leicester City in Saturday lunchtime's Premier League kickoff at the King Power Stadium. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Mikel Arteta left Arsenal fans confused with a much-changed starting XI to face Nottingham Forest. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has insisted Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham are best served to stay put for the time being despite being linked with moves away from the club. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has lavished praise on Mason Mount and suggested that the Englishman will be an important player for him at Old Trafford. 23 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Mary's is the venue for Sunday's meeting between the Premier League's leaders and basement boys, as Liverpool take on 20th-placed Southampton in a 2pm kickoff. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Philippe Senderos played against countless Premier League legends, but one stands out as the toughest. 23 November 2024 talksport.com Philippe Senderos played against countless Premier League legends, but one stands out as the toughest.