© EuroFootball.com
This weekend marks the end of the seven-month long Lithuanian A League championship. On Sunday, teams will play their final matches starting at 1:00 PM, after which they will go on vacation and prepare for the next season. The intrigue before the final round is greater than anyone could have predicted.
A few rounds ago, it seemed that the final match between "Šilutė" and "Nevėžis" would be a fierce battle for the 9th place. However, after unexpected wins by the team from Šilutė against "Šiauliai" and "Atlantas," the team from Kėdainiai no longer has a chance to climb from the last, 10th place. According to the current competition regulations, "Nevėžis" is set to be relegated to the I League.
The first two matches between these teams this season ended in 2-1 victories for "Nevėžis," while in the third match, after a dramatic battle, "Šilutė" triumphed 4-3. It was this failure that marked the beginning of a crisis for "Nevėžis," as the team has only earned 1 point in their last 10 matches, conceding a staggering 37 goals.
Trying to motivate the players for the final Lithuanian championship matches won’t be easy, as the prize positions have already been divided and only formalities remain. Players are tired after the season, many are thinking about vacations, and foreign players are longing for home. “We will try to fight in the final matches against the team from Klaipėda,” said the head coach of "Vilnius," Ivan Švabovičius, in an interview for the official club website, exuding optimism.
Currently in 7th place, a win could move Vilnius above the Klaipėda club. "Atlantas" has also not given up hope of taking the 4th place and earning a spot in the Baltic Football League, so they will fight for victory.
The match at the "Vėtra" stadium will see the teams in 3rd and 4th place, "Vėtra" and "Žalgiris." It will likely only become clear on match day whether the "Vėtra" striker Gvidas Juška, who missed the previous match against "Šiauliai," and goalkeeper Vaidotas Žutautas, who has injury problems and even declined an invitation to the national team’s friendly match against Malta. Regardless, "Vėtra" has secured 3rd place in the A League, the team representative Tautvydas Vencevičius assured Eurofootball.com that they will fight only for a win.
It could also serve as motivation for "Vėtra" to fight for the title of the strongest Vilnius team, currently held by Žalgiris, and "Vėtra" could take it if they win. "Žalgiris," fighting for 4th place, will not give up easily. The Lithuanian team with deep football traditions has everything in their hands – a victory could secure them 4th place and a spot in the Baltic Football League.
"Sūduva," just like "Atlantas" and "Žalgiris," has not lost hope of taking the 4th place. To achieve this, the team from Marijampolė must defeat "Šiauliai.” They will prepare for the match with full force, despite the poor form of the Šiauliai team. "Šiauliai" has lost their last four matches and is in a difficult situation, but they will fight for victory in the final matches.
In recent years, the teams "Kaunas" and "Ekranas," who have been fighting for the championship title, would only determine their relationship in the final matches. However, this year the champion was determined much earlier than expected. Therefore, in the final matches, both teams will fight only for their pride.
