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Sports Mole previews Thursday's Conference League clash between FK Zalgiris and Linfield, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

FK Zalgiris and Linfield square off in the first leg of their Conference League second qualifying round tie on Thursday evening.

Both clubs have dropped into this competition on the back of losing close ties in the first round of Champions League qualifying last week.

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Match preview

Ever since experiencing group-stage football in the 2022-23 Conference League, Zalgiris have been desperate to return to the main phase of a European competition.

However, defeats to Ferencvaros and Pafos have seen them miss out, and the Lithuanian champions must now come through three ties to make the League Phase.

Letting slip a 2-0 first-leg advantage against Hamrun Spartans to lose 11-10 on penalties in last week's Champions League first-round qualifying second leg has significantly lowered the mood at the LFF Stadium.

They responded with a 2-0 victory over sixth-placed Dziugas at the weekend, but long-serving head coach Vladimir Cheburin knows that his players may need more than the one game to shake off the recent disappointment.

On a positive note, though Zalgiris has prevailed in four of their last five games, shaking off a previous seven-game winless streak in style. Nevertheless, they remain in fifth position in the Lithuanian top flight.

As for Linfield, they have only played competitively three times since returning from their summer break, failing to win a single fixture.

After losing on penalties to Dungannon in the Northern Ireland Charity Shield on the back of a goalless draw, they faced Irish side Shelbourne in the Champions League qualifiers.

David Healy witnessed his team fall to a 2-1 aggregate defeat, losing the away leg 1-0 and only being able to salvage a 1-1 draw at home.

Either side of last season's finishing and this one ending, Linfield have not won in five encounters, scoring just the two goals, and that will be a natural concern to Healy despite their tag as Northern Irish champions.

FK Zalgiris form (all competitions):

L W W W L W

Linfield form (all competitions):

D L D

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Team News

Cheburin will be forced into making at least one change after centre-back Vasilije Radenovic was sent off in the second leg against Hamrun Spartans.

With other defenders unavailable, teenager Vytis Pavilonis is an option to be given an opportunity in his place.

Dino Salcinovic could be recalled in a creative role having scored as a substitute at the weekend.

Linfield also have a centre-back banned in Ben Hall, with Scot Whiteside potentially being recalled to the team.

Kieran Offord is an alternative in the attack if Healy opts to move away from playing a 5-4-1 formation.

FK Zalgiris possible starting lineup:

Olses; Moutachy, Pavlionis, Dumancic, Tavares; Verbickas, Ofori, Matulevicius, Hadji; Kendysh, Antal

Linfield possible starting lineup:

Johns; Orr, Whiteside, East, Shields, McGee; Morrison, Archer, Mulgrew, Millar; Fitzpatrick

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We say: FK Zalgiris 2-1 Linfield

 

With both teams feeling a large sense of frustration having not gone deeper in the Champions League, we expect a competitive and feisty affair in Lithuania. Given their home advantage, we are backing the home team to come through with a narrow victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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