Baltic Power Rankings after GW9: Kalju for the win (but not yet)

For the first time since the Power Rankings began, we saw no movement not only in the Top 5 or Top 10, but even Top 12! Despite virtually the entire top half of the Baltic clubs remaining where they were after GW8 (other than Daugavpils and Hegelmann, who exchanged places, and Tukums, who dropped out of the Top 15), there will be much to fight for once GW10 calculations are in!

*While Estonia had already played their GW10, the other two countries are only on GW9, so latest results from Estonia do not yet factor into the power rankings (so Kalev fans will have to wait a bit to see how much their team gained in a surprise win over Paide on Sunday).

But we also know that things will remain as they are at least in the Top 8. Paide and Auda, for example, are only 2 coefficient points apart but because we know that Paide lost to Kalev in GW10, Auda will remain ahead even if they lose to RFS. The Žalgiris from Kaunas will also not be able to make a move on Paide’s 7th position should they beat Riteriai. Similarly, Flora lost to Kalju, so they will not be able to advance on FK Žalgiris. Therefore, all the excitement is to be found further down the rankings!

There, a few close encounters await! First, FK Tukums 2000 from Latvia are only 2 coefficient points behind ascendant FA Šiauliai from Lithuania. At only 141km apart, the two clubs face tough opponents in GW10 as Tukums will host Daugavpils and Šiauliai will welcome Hegelmann who are atop of A Lyga but only 3 points ahead. Second, Nõmme Kalju are not far behind – trailing by only 5 coefficient points – but as we know that they pulled off a win against Flora in GW10, their new coefficient will be 641. This means that even if Šiauliai win, the Estonian team are still going to leap-frog this entire group and go from 19th all the way up to 15th!

Elsewhere, Jelgava and Banga exchanged places as Banga will attempt to recover closer to their starting coefficient and Riteriai continue to castle the 24th position, remaining there for the fourth week running as the gap between them and Jelgava just above remains at a considerable 55 coefficient points and will need some time and effort to close. Grobiņa remain in a free-fall since GW3, now down to 18th from the highest of 13th back then. The only winless team in the Baltics – Dainava – are on a similar trajectory but their luck in the Rankings is somewhat better as they continue to float around 27-28th position, presently up to 28th.