Nations League | League C

Oct 15, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

S. Dariaus ir S. Girėno stadionas

Lithuania vs Romania

Match preview

After maintaining their perfect record in Group 2 at the weekend, Romania sit at the top of the standings with nine points to their name, putting them firmly on course for promotion to Europe's second tier.

Back in September, not long after their Euro 2024 adventure ended in the first knockout round, the Tricolorii swept past Kosovo and Lithuania - scoring three goals on each occasion - and it was back to business as usual on Saturday night.

Serie A stars Dennis Man and Razvan Marin put the visitors two up against Cyprus in Larnaca, before Tottenham Hotspur defender Radu Dragusin sealed a 3-0 win before half-time.

Since veteran coach Mircea Lucescu replaced Edward Iordanescu in the summer - some 38 years after his first spell in charge - Romania have continued their recent progress.

Mircea Lucescu appears to have settled on his preferred formation and personnel, with Trabzonspor striker Denis Dragus spearheading a 4-3-3, but he may be tempted to rotate his squad against more modest opposition.

Ranked 45th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, the Romanians have followed up a seven-match unbeaten run in away qualifiers with two wins away from home in this year's Nations League.

Romania will have history on their side as they seek another three points on the road, having won all six of their previous meetings with Lithuania, dating back to the 2008 World Cup qualifiers.

Lithuania's most recent defeat was a 3-1 loss in Bucharest last month, when they could have taken a point but were denied when the hosts struck twice late on.

Having narrowly avoided relegation from League C in the 2022-23 Nations League - thanks to a play-off win over Gibraltar - the Trispalves face another battle to avoid the drop this term, having lost each of their first three games.

An opening defeat to Cyprus and a 2-1 loss to Kosovo on Saturday have left the team coached by national legend Edgaras Jankauskas at the bottom of Group 2.

Like Lucescu, the former Porto striker is back for a second spell in charge of his country, but he has managed just four wins from 17 games since being reappointed in January last year.

Sitting 94 places below their Romanian rivals in the FIFA Global Ranking - the eighth-lowest nation in Europe - Lithuania could be destined for relegation to League D.

Paulius Golubickas scored as a substitute last time out, while 94-cap striker Fedor Cernych has scored more international goals (15) than anyone else in the hosts' squad, and both will be looking to make an impact from the bench.

Goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas will be reunited with some familiar faces as he represents Universitatea Cluj in the Romanian SuperLiga.

Recent Performance

Lithuania Nations League form:LLL

Lithuania form (all competitions):WWLLLL

Romania Nations League form:WWW

Romania form (all competitions):LDLWW

Injuries and suspensions

Lithuania

No sidelined players

Romania

No sidelined players

Possible starting lineups

Lithuania possible starting lineup:

Gertmonas; Sirvys, Kazukolovas, Girdvainis, Tutyskinas; Vorobjovas, Gineitis; Dolznikov, Slivka, Cernych; Kucys

Romania possible starting lineup:

Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; R. Marin, M. Marin, Stanciu; Man, Dragus, Mihaila