Today marks the start of Matchday 2 of the TOPsport A Lyga with the Vilnius derby between FK Riteriai and FK Žalgiris.
Both teams head into this match with different spirits following the opening round of the A Lyga. Champions FK Žalgiris secured a 2-1 victory over FC Džiugas Telšiai, while FK Riteriai faced a 3-4 defeat in a high-scoring match against FK Sūduva.
Prior to the game, Baltic Football News spoke with FK Riteriai’s new manager, Nikola Vitorovic, who emphasized that this match is not just another game. He described it as significant, stating that the derby energizes everyone, especially the players who are pumped for this one.
Historically, the derby has been one-sided over the last few years; FK Riteriai’s last victory against FK Žalgiris was in May 2020. Since then, they have gone without a win in 16 consecutive matches, with four draws and 12 defeats. Vitorovic, who has settled well in Lithuania after his time at SK Super Nova in Latvia, expressed his desire for his players to demonstrate resilience and competitiveness against any opponent. Despite facing some player issues, he is confident that they have a plan to challenge Žalgiris.
On the other side, Žalgiris manager Vladimir Cheburin shared his thoughts after the match against Džiugas. He noted that while they won and dominated in expected goals (xG) with a score of 3.16 to 1.37, he still expects more from the team. “Everyone tried, although not everything worked out. There is still a lot of work to be done. However, the desire is great. We had many of our younger players on the field. They need to develop, and these matches are important for their growth. Of course, we expect more from them,” he stated. Additionally, the team has added new players to their squad in recent days, making it interesting to see how they will integrate.
The first Vilnius derby of the season will take place at Sportima Arena, starting at 19:30.
Source: https://fkzalgiris.lt/v-ceburinas-jaunimas-turi-augti-tokiose-rungtynese/