The Battle of Larnaca

After picking up just three points so far, the relegation battle could be decided between the bottom two teams in Group C2 when Cyprus and Lithuania meet in the UEFA Nations League on Friday.

The hosts can secure safety with a point in Larnaca, which means the visitors must win to keep their relegation battle alive until the final day.

Latest Cyprus vs Lithuania team information

Sofronis Avgousti has switched from a back three to a 4-2-3-1 system during this year's UEFA Nations League campaign, and he will have to make at least one change in defence on Friday, with St Mirren's Alex Gogic withdrawing through injury.

Anorthosis Famagusta midfielder Andreas Chrysostomou is also out, but Brazilian-born right-back Anderson Correia has been recalled and will provide support on the home side's left flank.

Expected to start up front, AIK striker Ioannis Pittas has averaged nearly a goal per game in this year's Allsvenskan campaign, and he is expected to continue to lead the attack, partnering Hellas Verona striker Grigoris Kastanos.

Meanwhile, Lithuania's attack is led by Armandas Kucys, who scored in last month's defeat to Romania and has been responsible for two of the three goals the team have scored in the Nations League so far.

Veteran captain Fedor Cernych, who is closing in on 100 caps, has mostly been coming off the bench recently, so Paulius Golubickas is likely to start and slot in behind Kucys at the AEK Arena.

Latest expected lineup Cyprus vs Lithuania

Cyprus:

Mall; Antoniou, Andreou, Laifis, Ioannou; Kousoulos, Artymatas; Loizou, Kastanos, Tzionis; Pittas

Lithuania:

Gertmonas; Sirvys, Lekiatas, Girdvainis, Tutyskinas; Vorobjovas, Gineitis; Slivka, Golubickas, Lasickas; Kucys

Latest football commentary Cyprus vs Lithuania

After a disappointing October campaign, when they conceded six goals in two games without picking up a point, Cyprus' hopes of promotion to League B were brutally ended.

A 3-0 home defeat to Romania and then a similar defeat to Kosovo have left the team concerned only with avoiding relegation to the fourth tier of European football.

With their only win in the Nations League against Lithuania, Cyprus have dropped to 127th in the latest FIFA rankings. More importantly, they are currently third in Group 2 and still facing relegation.

Sofronis Avgousti's side are still three points off the bottom of the table, though, so a draw on Friday night would be enough to keep them within touching distance of automatic relegation or a relegation play-off with League D sides.

A defeat would leave them needing at least a point in their final game on Monday against Romania, who have won all their matches so far, so a win like the one against Lithuania in September would be welcome.

Against Cyprus two months ago, Lithuania left the pitch disappointed after failing to capitalise on their chances, despite having twice as many shots as their opponents and having had nearly two-thirds of possession.

This proved costly, as subsequent defeats to Romania (both home and away) and Kosovo left them bottom of Group 2 with no points.

After narrowly avoiding relegation from League C in the 2022-23 Nations League – thanks to a play-off win over Gibraltar – Lithuania now face the prospect of relegation again this season.

Under the guidance of national football legend Edgaras Jankauskas – who returned to the dugout after being appointed in January 2023 – Lithuania have managed just four wins in 18 games since the former Porto striker returned.

Ranked 13 places below Cyprus in the FIFA rankings, Lithuania are predicted to finish fourth – even with a win, they may still need a point from their final game against Kosovo on the final day of the group stage. However, their fate is still up in the air.

Cyprus vs Lithuania score prediction

Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the following results for the Cyprus vs Lithuania match:

• Sportsmole: Cyprus 1-0 Lithuania

• WhoScore: Cyprus 2-1 Lithuania
• Our prediction: Cyprus 1-0 Lithuania

When and where to watch Cyprus vs Lithuania live?

To watch the Cyprus vs Lithuania match live in the Nations League at 0:00 on November 16, viewers can watch on TV360 here, Mytv system here or on online sports channels. Wish you all have fun watching football.

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/nhan-dinh-du-doan-cyprus-vs-lithuania-cuoc-chien-sinh-tu-tai-larnaca-234283.html