FK Kauno Zalgiris
On Tuesday, 7 July 2026, Lithuanian club Kauno Zalgiris and Kosovo club Drita will meet in the first qualifying round of the Champions League. The match kicks off at 17:00 BST.
The Lithuanian club are in excellent match rhythm in the middle of their domestic championship and will try to make the most of home advantage. Kosovo club Drita are only just returning from their break, have problems with match practice and have travelled away with serious personnel losses in the defensive line.
Kauno Zalgiris are confidently sitting third in the Lithuanian championship, having taken 28 points from 20 rounds with a goal difference of 37:16. The team are in excellent physical condition and have gone three matches in a row without defeat. Key attacking players are available: Amin Benshaib (eight league goals), Fabian Ourega (six goals) and Leo Ribeiro (five goals and five assists). Last European season, the Lithuanian club reached the third qualifying round of the Conference League, so the team do have international experience.
Drita won the last domestic championship, but they approach Champions League qualifying in a disjointed state. During the break, the team lost form, which resulted in three defeats in three friendlies (against Lokomotiv Sofia, CSKA 1948 and Sepsi OSK) by a combined score of 2:7. The situation is made worse by a personnel crisis in defence. First-choice centre-backs Juan Camilo Mesa and Hasan Gomda will miss out through injury, as will key defensive midfielders Rron Broja and Ilir Mustafa.
Kauno Zalgiris look like the favourites for this meeting because of the huge difference in match rhythm. The Lithuanian club are scoring consistently in their league (an average of 1.85 goals per game) and have a fully fit attacking line. It will be extremely difficult for Drita's unsettled defence, weakened by injuries, to contain the hosts' opening pressure.
Ívar-Orri Kristjánsson (Iceland)
Matches – 5 (International competitions, 2025/26);
Average fouls per match – 22;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellow cards) – 4.6;
Matches with a red card – 0 out of 5;
Matches with a penalty – 1 out of 5.
|
Zeljko Sopic
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Tomas Švedkauskas
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Anton Tolordava
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joris Gabriel Moutachy
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Marko Konatar
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rokas Lekiatas
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Amine Benchaib
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fabien Ourega
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Franco Pedro Baldassarra
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Leonardo Ribeiro da Cruz
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yukiyoshi Karashima
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Renan Abner do Carmo de Oliveira
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Deividas Mikelionis
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joris Aliukonis
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Aldayr Hernández Basanta
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Luka Račić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fedor Černych
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gratas Sirgėdas
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nosa Iyobosa Edokpolor
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Vykintas Slivka
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Haris Kadrić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Motiejus Burba
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ardijan Nuhiji
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Faton Maloku
|
gk. | 1 | -1 |
|
Altin Bytyçi
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Besnik Krasniqi
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Blerton Sheji
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Jorgo Pëllumbi
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Raddy Ovouka
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Albert Dabiqaj
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Vesel Limaj
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Blerim Krasniqi
|
fw. | 1 | 1 |
|
Igball Jashari
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Kristal Abazaj
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Eron Isufi
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Laurit Behluli
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Agan Mjaki
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Hajdin Salihu
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Liridon Balaj
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
William Guido Baeten
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Arb Manaj
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Mike Arthur
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Oniks Grezda
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Arda Kardzhali
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Arda Kardzhali
Valur
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Valur
Penybont
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Penybont
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Lech
Lech
FK Kauno Zalgiris
FK Kauno Zalgiris
Ružomberok
Ružomberok
FK Kauno Zalgiris
NK Celje
Drita
Drita
NK Celje
Rayo Vallecano
Drita
Drita
AZ Alkmaar
Drita
Shkendija
Shelbourne
Drita
Drita
Omonia
KuPS
Drita
FC Differdange 03
Drita
Drita
FC Differdange 03
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14:5 | 9 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:3 | 9 |
|
3
|
Liverpool
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:7 | 9 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10:5 | 9 |
|
5
|
Real Betis
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7:4 | 9 |
|
6
|
Stuttgart
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 7 |
|
7
|
Arsenal
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:2 | 7 |
|
8
|
Barcelona
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11:6 | 6 |
|
9
|
Como
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10:5 | 6 |
|
10
|
Manchester City
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:5 | 6 |
|
11
|
Brugge
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:6 | 6 |
|
12
|
Sporting CP
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 6 |
|
13
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 6 |
|
14
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10:5 | 5 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8:5 | 4 |
|
16
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
17
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
18
|
PSV
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:2 | 4 |
|
19
|
Villarreal
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8:8 | 3 |
|
20
|
Inter Milan
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:6 | 3 |
|
21
|
Manchester United
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:6 | 3 |
|
22
|
Napoli
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 3 |
|
23
|
Galatasaray
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:9 | 3 |
|
24
|
LASK Linz
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:9 | 3 |
|
25
|
FK Sabah
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:6 | 3 |
|
26
|
Feyenoord
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:8 | 3 |
|
27
|
Lens
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:7 | 3 |
|
28
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:9 | 3 |
|
29
|
AEK Athens
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:8 | 3 |
|
30
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:8 | 3 |
|
31
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:9 | 2 |
|
32
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:7 | 1 |
|
33
|
Viking
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5:9 | 1 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4:10 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:13 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:1 | 6 |
|
3
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
5
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
6
|
Como
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 6 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
8
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
9
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 3 |
|
12
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
14
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 3 |
|
16
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
18
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
21
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
23
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
24
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
25
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
26
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
27
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3:3 | 2 |
|
28
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
29
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
30
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
31
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:6 | 0 |
|
32
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
33
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
|
2
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 |
|
5
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
6
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
8
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 | 3 |
|
9
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
11
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
15
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
17
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
18
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
21
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
22
|
Como
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 0 |
|
24
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
25
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
26
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
27
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
28
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
29
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
30
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
31
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
32
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
33
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:10 | 0 |
