Prediction: Lithuania vs Serbia

Verdict: Total goals under 2.5

Best odds: 133/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Having beaten Lithuania by 2-0 in the opening round of the Euro 2024 qualifications, Serbia travel to Kaunas to face this rival at the Darius and Girenas stadium on Sunday.

These teams have met five times in the last five years, and the history contained within that span heavily favours the Balkans country ahead of this meeting.

Lithuania

After losing the opening match in Belgrade, Lithuania earned their first point in a 1-1 draw at home against Bulgaria, with defender Justas Lasickas sent off in the 17th minute. They soon suffered another 2-0 loss, away to current group leaders Hungary, and eventually drew 2-2 at home against Montenegro on Thursday.

All four goals in that game came in the final quarter, with Gytis Paulauskas breaking the deadlock in the 71st minute. Nikola Krstovic equalized in the 78th, and it seemed Lithuania would suffer another defeat when Stefan Savic scored for the visitors again in the 89th. However, deep in stoppage time, Fedor Cernych spared his team the shame by setting the final score.

The two points to their name have Edgaras Jankauskas’s side sitting in fourth place, ahead of only Bulgaria, and that due to having scored a goal more.

Going into this clash, Lithuania will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the Belgrade result and show more resilience against the Serbs in front of their own fans.

Team News

Cernych is widely expected to be recalled to the starting lineup against Serbia after turning hero off the bench against Montenegro, likely in the place of Paulius Golubickas in the No. 10 role. Paulauskas will probably lead the attacking line again.

Serbia

As for Serbia, they travel to Lithuania on the back of a disappointing 1-2 defeat at home at the hands of Hungary. It was an important game for both sides, likely to play a part in the final standings in the group.

Interestingly enough, not one Serbia player got on the scoresheet, though they took the lead in the 10th minute as Hungary defender Attila Szalai put the ball in his own net. Nevertheless, the Magyars bounced back and first Barnabas Varga equalized in the 34th minute, before Willi Orban turned the contest around just two minutes later.

Before that, Dragan Stojkovic led his men to the victory over Lithuania in the opening round, and then another one, 0-2 away to Montenegro. In the third match of the campaign, they were forced to chase the result away to Bulgaria for the entire second half, but they managed to produce a very late equalizer through Darko Lazovic, which set the final score at 1-1.

With two wins, a draw and a defeat, Serbia are now second to Hungary, trailing the leaders by three points. But with two spots at the upcoming Euros reserved for the top two teams from the group, they won’t be too worried just yet.

Team News

This game is now very important for Serbia, who will want to shake off Montenegro from breathing down their necks in the group.

Stojkovic isn’t likely to make too many changes from the team that started against Hungary, with Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic upfront supported by Dusan Tadic just behind, but wing-back Andrija Zivkovic and defender Nikola Milenkovic, who started on the bench on Thursday, could be given a chance from the first whistle.

Conclusion

Due to their superior quality, as well as the success against Lithuania in previous years, Serbia are regarded as strong favourites to return to Belgrade victorious. Still, there shouldn’t be too many goals in this game.

Verdict: Total goals under 2.5

Best odds: 133/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet