by Titas Teiten
With the new A Lyga season starting already this week, Baltic Football News Lithuania team compiled a season preview for the most well-balanced league in the Baltics.
The 2024 A Lyga season was defined by Žalgiris Vilnius’ dominant resurgence. After a disastrous 2023 campaign, Lithuania’s most successful football club returned to its rightful place at the top, securing the championship with little resistance.
A clear top three emerged early in the season. Hegelmann impressed with an outstanding tactical approach, finishing second under their brilliant coach Andrius Skerla. Meanwhile, Kauno Žalgiris claimed third place but fell short of expectations, making their season feel more like a disappointment than an achievement.
One of the biggest surprises, if not the biggest, was DFK Dainava’s remarkable fourth-place finish, the highest in the club’s history.
On the other hand, the season had its fair share of disappointments. Defending champions FK Panevėžys endured a shocking collapse, finishing in eighth place, while FA Šiauliai also struggled, ending up in seventh. Their poor campaign ultimately led to the departure of head coach Mindaugas Čepas.
What to expect of defending Champions – FK Žalgiris?
Reigning 2024 champions Žalgiris Vilnius were in total control last season. Apart from a few moments when Hegelmann seemed to close in on Vladimir Cheburin’s side, there was never any real doubt that Žalgiris would reclaim the title.
However, their European campaign was far less impressive. Having finished second in 2023, they missed out on the Champions League qualifiers and had to start directly in the Conference League qualifiers. Their journey was short-lived, as they were eliminated in the second round by Cypriot side Paphos, marking a disappointing international run.
Despite this setback, several Žalgiris players had standout seasons. Paulius Golubickas secured a move to Polish Ekstraklasa side Radomiak Radom, while Joel Bopesu joined Armenian champions FC Pyunik. Liviu Antal returned to his native Romania, whereas Giedrius Matulevičius remains under contract and will continue with the team for the upcoming season.
Fortunately, a core group of key players have committed to staying, including goalkeeper Árpád Tordai, full-back Joris Moutachy, center-backs Younn Zahary and Yuriy Kendysh, and captain Ovidijus Verbickas. While Žalgiris still has work to do in the transfer market, their ambitions remain clear: securing another A Lyga title and automatic qualification for European competition. The ultimate dream, albeit an unlikely one, remains a spot in the Champions League.
Who are the newcomers?
FK Riteriai, newly promoted to this season’s A Lyga, is making its return to Lithuania’s top flight after a brief but shocking relegation. Originally based in Trakai, a town about 30 kilometers from Vilnius, the club rebranded in 2019. Despite its strong track record in the 2010s, last season’s drop to Pirma Lyga came as a major surprise. However, Riteriai bounced back in dominant fashion, finishing first with 74 points in 30 matches, relying heavily on local talent and academy players.
Uncertainty loomed over the club’s financial stability and its ability to compete in A Lyga, but thanks to new investors from Singapore, Riteriai is now set for a comeback. So far, the club has seen minimal squad movement during the transfer window. Key departures include their number-one goalkeeper, Armantas Vitkauskas, who joined Banga, and last season’s head coach, S. Cisakowski, who left by mutual agreement. Additionally, Rokas Filipavičius, a crucial player in 2023 who was loaned to Sūduva last season, has also moved to Banga.
To strengthen the team, Riteriai appointed Nikola Vitorovic, who came over from SK Super Nova in Latvia, as their new head coach and secured the signing of ex-Džiugas midfielder Leif Estevez Fernandez, Meinardas Mikulėnas from Zalgiris and Garissone Innocent from the Belgian second tier side KAS Eupen.
Predicting Riteriai’s 2025 season remains difficult, but as a newly promoted club, avoiding relegation would be considered a successful outcome.
Key rivalries
Lithuania is not particularly known for fierce football rivalries, largely due to the relatively young history of many A Lyga clubs. Lack of long-standing traditions and a fairly even geographical distribution of clubs around the country makes it difficult for true derbies to develop. However, there are still some intriguing matchups that could spark tension and competitiveness.
Most of these encounters involve FK Žalgiris, the dominant force in Lithuanian football, as they are typically the club aiming for the title each season. One of the most exciting clashes could be between them and Hegelmann. After finishing first and second last season, their meetings promise to be highly competitive, especially given Hegelmann’s impressively long unbeaten streak against the reigning champions.
Another potential rivalry is between Žalgiris Vilnius and Kauno Žalgiris. With the financial backing of their successful basketball club, the Kaunas-based team quietly aspires to challenge for the A Lyga title. This season, they have made some ambitious signings, including Romualdas Jansonas, a graduate of the FK Žalgiris academy, which could add an extra layer of intensity to their encounters.
A particularly heated matchup is Žalgiris Vilnius vs DFK Dainava, fueled by the passionate ultra groups of both teams. The capital club is backed by Pietų IV, while Dainava boasts Dzūkų Tankai, two of the most dedicated supporter groups in Lithuanian football, creating an electric atmosphere whenever these sides meet.
Other noteworthy local derbies include the Žemaitija regional derby between Džiugas and Banga, as well as the Kaunas derby between Kauno Žalgiris and Hegelmann. However, these fixtures are not yet taken as seriously in the broader context of Lithuanian football rivalries.
Players to watch
Giedrius Matulevičius – Arguably the best Lithuanian player in A Lyga – had a breakout season last year, cementing his place as a key figure for Žalgiris Vilnius. As a midfielder, he delivered an impressive 11 goals and 6 assists in 35 league matches, playing a pivotal role in securing the Lithuanian championship. With the departures of key players like P. Golubickas, J. Bopesu, and L. Antal, Matulevičius is set to take on an even greater leadership role within the team. If he maintains his form and consistency from last season, he is bound to attract interest from foreign clubs and solidify his place in the Lithuanian national team.
Yanis Azouazi – Despite information on Yanis Azouazi remaining limited, he is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing newcomers for Hegelmann – last season’s A Lyga runners-up. Under the guidance of coach Andrius Skerla, the club has been highly active this offseason, securing several promising signings, including this 20-year-old French-Moroccan attacking midfielder. Azouazi developed his game at the prestigious Montpellier HSC academy, the youth system of the 2012 French champions. Given his rich academy background, it will be fascinating to see how he adapts to A Lyga and showcases his talent in an attacking midfield role.
Romualdas Jansonas – While the potential of this 19-year-old striker is undeniable, he is yet to truly prove himself as one of Lithuania’s top young attacking talents. Last season, under Žalgiris Vilnius head coach Vladimir Cheburin, Jansonas saw very limited playing time, insufficient for him to showcase his full potential. Despite this, he made a strong impression in the Youth League qualifiers, where he proved he deserves more recognition. In just four games, he scored six goals, including a hat-trick against the Welsh side The New Saints and a goal against Manchester United’s youth team. Now, with a fresh start at FK Kauno Žalgiris, increased playing time could see him emerge as one of the top scorers in A Lyga this season.
Ariagner Smith – After an entire season without playing, the Nicaraguan international is set to return to Panevėžys, though exact details surrounding his situation remain a mystery. In 2023, Smith was one of the standout players in A Lyga, helping Panevėžys secure the championship while also establishing himself as one of the league’s top scorers. His return was initially planned for the 2024 season, but he never made it onto the field. Now, all eyes will be on him to see if he can rediscover his best form after such a long absence. Will he make a successful comeback? The start of the season will give us the answer.
Mantas Bertašius – During their historic 2024 season, where Banga finished fifth in A Lyga and, more importantly, won the Lithuanian Cup to secure their European debut later this year, several players stood out, including goalkeeper Mantas Bertašius. The 24-year-old Lithuanian played a crucial role in Banga’s success, catching the attention of national team coach Edgaras Jankauskas and earning his debut for Lithuania. His performances made him an intriguing target for both domestic and foreign clubs. However, Bertašius opted to stay for another season, aiming to lead Banga in their Conference League qualifiers. This season could be a defining one for him – an opportunity to establish himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Lithuania and, potentially, to ensure a move abroad in 2026.
Predictions
Lithuanian A Lyga is both the most experienced and the most equally-matched of the three Baltic leagues, with upsets such as Panevėžys winning the title in 2023 being rare. Still, some trends, such as the gradual rise of Hegelmann and Kauno Žalgiris are obvious.
We think the A Lyga table will look as follows by the time the final whistle of 2025 is blown:
- FK Žalgiris Vilnius
- FC Hegelmann
- FK Kauno Žalgiris
- FK Panevėžys
- FA Šiauliai
- FK Banga Gargždai
- FK Sūduva Marijampolė
- DFK Dainava Alytus
- Džiugas Telšiai
- FK Riteriai
When does it start and where to watch?
A Lyga season 2025 starts on the 28th of February with Dainava hosting Kauno Žalgiris at 19:30. All games can be enjoyed free of charge on LRT or via the A Lyga website. Please note that these broadcasts are geo restricted to the three Baltic states, so unless you find yourself physically in Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia, it may be worth looking into one of the many VPN services out there.
