FK Zalgiris and KF Ballkani will lock horns in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round contest on Tuesday evening, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1.
Ballkani's Nazmi Gripshi made the breakthrough in the 15th minute of the first leg last week, before Oliver Buff got his name on the scoresheet 10 minutes later to leave the game tied ahead of the second leg.
Match preview
Zalgiris won the Lithuanian league title for the ninth time last season, which saw them book their spot in the first qualifying round of the Champions League, and they are bidding to reach the group stage for the first time in their history.
The Green Whites side were eliminated in the second qualifying round of last season's Champions League, while they ultimately lost to Bodo/Glimt in the playoff round for the Europa Conference League after also suffering a 1-0 defeat in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Zalgiris are the favourites to overcome Ballkani, but the first leg was a tight affair, with the visitors needing to come from a goal behind to claim a 1-1 draw, which has left the match delicately poised.
Vladimir Cheburin's side are 18 games into their latest domestic campaign, picking up 41 points to sit top of the division, but they have not been in action since the first leg last week.
Zalgiris had won four straight league matches before the clash with Ballkani last week, and they are set to play in their 20th Champions League match on Tuesday, boasting a record of five wins, three draws and 11 defeats from their 19 fixtures in the competition thus far.
Ballkani, meanwhile, are the holders of the Football Superleague of Kosovo, which allowed them to book their spot in the Champions League first qualifying round for the first time.
The visitors have also not been in action since the first leg, and they gave a strong account of themselves in the opening match, so it would not be a shock to see them progress to the second qualifying round.
Ilir Daja's side were excellent in their domestic league last term, picking up 76 points from their 36 matches to finish at the summit, 12 points clear of second-place Drita.
Ballkani's lack of experience at this level of football could cost them when it comes to the pressure moments, though, and they will be coming up against a Zalgiris outfit that are used to playing European fixtures.
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Team News
Zalgiris played a 4-4-2 formation in the first leg last week, with Buff operating at the tip of the midfield diamond, and the home side could be unchanged for this contest.
Renan Oliveira is set to continue in the final third of the field alongside Josip Tadic, although there is pressure from Mathias Oyewusi when it comes to the attacking spots.
Donatas Kazlauskas is also in contention for a start, but head coach Cheburin is expected to resist the temptation to make changes from the first leg of their first qualifying round contest.
Ballkani have also not reported any fresh injury concerns, with the four changes that occurred during the first leg all tactical rather than down to fitness problems.
Gripshi impressed off the left in the opening match, finding the back of the net in the 15th minute, and he will again be in the starting side on Tuesday night.
Albin Berisha is expected to lead the line, meanwhile, with Ermal Krasniqi, who provided the assist for Gripshi's goal in the first leg, playing off the right for the visitors.
FK Zalgiris possible starting lineup:
Gertmonas; Mikoliunas, Pavelic, Ljubisavljevic, Mamic; Kyeremeh, Gorobsov, Ourega; Buff; Renan Oliveira, Tadic
KF Ballkani possible starting lineup:
Frasheri; Ar Thaqi, Jashanica, Dellova, As Thaqi; Emerllahu, Kuc; Gripshi, Korenica, Krasniqi; Berisha
We say: FK Zalgiris 2-0 KF Ballkani
The first leg was a lot closer than expected, but we are finding it difficult to back Ballkani to triumph on Tuesday evening. Zalgiris, arguably, have the superior quality in their squad, and we are expecting them to advance to the next round of the competition with a 3-1 aggregate success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
