Cyprus vs Lithuania prediction: EUROPE: UEFA Nations League – League C betting tips on match 2024-11-14 17:00.
[p]Cyprus are in danger of slipping into the fourth tier of the UEFA Nations League (UNL) for the first time, unless new manager Sofronis Avgousti can turn things around quickly. The 47-year old took charge last month and has endured a difficult start to life in the dugout, with a pair of 3-0 defeats to Romania and Kosovo leaving his country in third place in League C Group 2 after four rounds (W1, L3).[/p]
[p]Now unable to be promoted, their position is made even more precarious by the fact Cyprus will drop into bottom spot if they lose to Lithuania, who sit directly below them in the table. There is reason for supporters to be positive though, as their country have won four of the five previous H2Hs (L1), including a 1-0 success in September, their only victory of the 2024/25 UNL campaign so far.[/p]
[p]That doesn’t bode well for the visitors, who have lost each of their four games in the competition and could well be consigned to an automatic relegation if that run extends to five defeats. Such form has piled the pressure on manager Edgaras Jankauskas, who admits he “takes responsibility” for recent results, which have put his side’s record as an ever-present in League C at risk.[/p]
[p]That streak could have been ended in March, when the Tricolours only stayed up by the skin of their teeth by beating Gibraltar over a two-legged play-off. Those victories have proved to be a false dawn though, and supporters may be forgiven for not holding too much hope as they make the long trek south, when they will be hoping to see their country win just a fourth UNL away fixture (L8).[/p]
[p]Key battle: Ioannis Pittas may be the most likely Cyprus player to score the opening goal of the Sofronis Avgousti era given three of his last four international strikes have been the first of the match, two of them in 1-0 victories over Lithuania! Attempting to stop him in his tracks will be visiting defender Edvinas Girdvainis, although he has helped his country keep just three clean sheets in 16 UNL appearances (W3, D3, L10).[/p]
[p]Hot stat: 12 of Cyprus’ last 13 competitive internationals have featured 3+ goals.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]