Drita vs Kauno Zalgiris - prediction, team news, lineups

With the 2nd limb finely poised, hosts Drita volition look to get the amended of Kauno Zalgiris at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri on Tuesday and scope the 2nd circular of Champions League qualifying.

The archetypal limb of the archetypal qualifying circular saw Tuesday's contestants gully 1-1 at Darius and Girenas Stadium connected July 7, with Drita staging a precocious comeback to acceptable up a tense last encounter.

Match preview

It would beryllium understandable if Drita supporters felt assured up of the 2nd limb fixed their broadside managed to find an equaliser 8 minutes from clip acknowledgment to Blerim Krasniqi's strike.

That stalemate brought to an extremity a streak of 4 consecutive losses successful Europe, and it was besides the archetypal clip successful 5 continental outings that they avoided conceding astatine slightest 3 goals.

Zekirija Ramadani's broadside person lone played 1 lucifer successful their 2026-27 season, but it should beryllium noted that they mislaid each 3 of their friendlies successful the buildup to the archetypal leg, portion they besides were beaten successful their last 3 fixtures of 2025-26.

However, portion Drita suffered a 2-0 decision to Gjilani astatine location successful their last crippled of past term, they were triumphant successful their anterior 7 clashes astatine Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri.

The hosts played 5 location fixtures successful Europe past season, with the nine winning twice, drafting erstwhile and losing doubly successful that period.

Kauno Zalgiris volition beryllium disappointed that they failed to marque the astir of their dominance successful the archetypal limb considering they lone faced 1 changeable connected target.

The visitors person ne'er reached the league oregon radical signifier of immoderate European competition, and they are present winless successful 4 of their past 5 continental matches.

Their extremity against Drita was besides their archetypal successful 3 European games, though they person lone conceded much than 1 extremity successful 1 of their 7 astir caller outings successful UEFA competitions.

Head manager Zeljko Sopic's squad are presently archetypal successful the Lithuanian apical formation with 31 points from 19 league matches, and they are unbeaten successful 5 matches up of Tuesday's contention (three wins, 2 draws).

The Green-Whites are besides undefeated successful 4 distant games - 2 wins and 2 stalemates - but they person been defeated successful six of their 9 distant trips successful Europe, achieving triumph conscionable once.

Drita Champions League form:

Drita signifier (all competitions):

Kauno Zalgiris Champions League form:

Kauno Zalgiris signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Drita volition apt sanction a akin starting XI to the broadside that fought their mode backmost into the archetypal leg, with strikers Blerim Krasniqi and Igball Jashari acceptable to enactment each other.

Fans should expect to spot midfield anchor Vesel Limaj to play alongside Albert Dabiqaj and Blerton Sheji, portion Kristal Abazaj whitethorn commencement successful an precocious role.

Should the hosts tract a four-man defence, Altin Bytyci and Jorgo Pellumbi are apt to beryllium trusted to look arsenic centre-backs.

Kauno Zalgiris could usage midfielders Amine Benchaib, Yukiyoshi Karashima and Franco Baldassarra up of cardinal defenders Anton Tolordava and Rokas Lekiatas.

In the guardant line, fig nine Renan Oliveira whitethorn beryllium stationed betwixt wide attackers Leo Ribeiro and Fabien Ourega.

Drita imaginable starting lineup:

Maloku; Krasniqi, Bytyci, Pellumbi, Ovouka; Dabiqaj, Limaj, Sheji; Abazaj; Krasniqi, Jashari

Kauno Zalgiris imaginable starting lineup:

Svedkauskas; Moutachy, Tolordava, Lekiatas, Konatar; Benchaib, Karashima, Baldassarra; Ribeiro, Oliveira, Ourega

We say: Drita 2-1 Kauno Zalgiris (Drita triumph 3-2 connected aggregate)

Drita whitethorn not boast a peculiarly beardown European record, but their continental displays person been acold amended than the performances of the visitors.

Kauno Zalgiris person besides seldom travelled good erstwhile playing successful UEFA competitions, and possibly the juncture of the 2nd limb volition enactment excessively overmuch unit connected the distant side.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.