FK Zalgiris will face off in Lithuania on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League third-qualifying-round tie.
The Norwegian visitors arrive with a 5-0 lead after their home game and will look to complete the job and progress towards what would be their first group-stage appearance in Europe's premier competition.
Match preview
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After winning their ninth Lithuanian title last season, FK Zalgiris entered Champions League qualifying in the first round, beginning with a contest against Ballkani.
After a first-leg 1-1 draw, a goalless stalemate in the home contest saw the tie go to extra time and the Zaliai Balti eventually prevailed as Mathias Oyewusi hit the decisive goal early in the additional 30 minutes.
That saw them book a tough two-legged tie with Malmo in the second qualifying round, and Vladimir Cheburin's side advanced in impressive fashion with a 3-0 aggregate triumph, firstly winning 1-0 at home before Oyewusi and Renan Oliveira got on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory in Sweden.
After their trip to Norway for the first leg against Bodo/Glimt finished in a heavy five-goal defeat, the Zaliai Balti returned to league action on Saturday and moved back to the top of the A Lyga with a 2-1 win over Banga, thanks to goals from Fabien Ourega and Marko Milickovic, seeing them move ahead of second-placed Hegelmann Litauenn on goal difference while keeping four games in hand.
Now returning to continental action, Cheburin's side are all but out of the contest but will hope to prevent a repeat of the first leg and start quickly to give themselves a small chance of running the Norwegian outfit close on home soil.
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Bodo/Glimt, meanwhile, will make the trip hoping to put up another resounding victory and advance to the final qualifying round with momentum following their eye-catching first-leg performance.
After winning the Eliteserien and reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League last season, the visitors entered Champions League qualifying in the first round and just held on in the second leg to prevail with a 4-3 aggregate win over Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag.
That saw them book a second-round tie with Linfield, and, after a shock 1-0 away defeat, Den Gule Horde were able to turn the game on its head and more as they won 8-0 in the reverse fixture, with Amahl Pellegrino and Runar Espejord each hitting braces.
Heading into the penultimate round of qualifying, the Norwegian champions hosted Zalgiris for the first leg last Wednesday, and they put themselves firmly in the ascendancy with a dominant 5-0 victory, as Pellegrino and Espejord were again on the scoresheet alongside Hugo Vetlesen, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen and Marius Hoibraten.
On the back of that display and a 7-0 thrashing of Odd in their domestic top flight on Saturday, with Vetlesen starring with a hat-trick, to remain third with a game in hand on league leaders Molde, Kjetil Knutsen's men will aim to complete the job on Tuesday, avoiding any scares and progressing to the playoff round in style.
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Team News
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Zalgiris defender Dinmukhammed Kashken was sent off in their recent league win over Banga, but he will be available for selection with his suspension instead carrying over to their next domestic contest.
Their line should again be led by Mathias Oyewusi, who hit important goals in their previous two qualifying ties.
He will be joined by Renan Oliveira, with the Brazilian boasting eight goals in 14 league appearances so far this season.
Bodo/Glimt have little reason to make many changes to their squad after the first-leg thrashing, even after the departure of Victor Boniface, who scored five goals in their opening four qualifying games.
In his absence, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen should again spearhead the attack, while winger Amahl Pellegrino may be the main attacking threat having hit 15 goals and provided three assists in 15 Eliteserien appearances so far this term.
Further back, Hugo Vetlesen, Elias Kristoffersen Hagen and Ulrik Saltnes should again operate as a midfield three.
FK Zalgiris possible starting lineup:
Gertmonas; Bopesu, Pavelic, Ljubisavljevic, Mamic; Buff, Gorobsov, Milickovic, Ourega; Oliveira, Oyewusi
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Khaikin; Sampsted, Moe, Hoibraten, Wembangomo; Vetlesen, Hagen, Saltnes; Mvuka, Salvesen, Pellegrino
We say: FK Zalgiris 1-3 Bodo/Glimt (Bodo/Glimt win 8-1 on aggregate)
With very little to lose, FK Zalgiris should come out and attack from the first whistle on Tuesday, but we see that giving the visitors plenty of chances to use their quality and exploit defensive gaps.
While another thrashing may not occur, we do anticipate Den Gule Horden stretching their lead further in Lithuania.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Sam Varley
