Lithuania will look to make it two wins out of two in the UEFA Nations League (UNL) as Azerbaijan start their campaign in League D for the first time since the inaugural edition.
Match News and Current Form
Two second-half goals lifted Lithuania to a 2-0 win away in Liechtenstein on Thursday in their opening game. It’s a result that provides welcome respite after recent struggles in this competition, as they had lost 11 of their previous 12 UNL group stage games (D1). Edgaras Jankauskas’ men now look to record back-to-back victories for the first time since June 2024, when they won three in a row without conceding - two of which came in this competition. Home advantage may not help on that front, as the Trispalvės have never won a game as hosts in the UNL group stage (D3, L9), failing to score in half those games.
Azerbaijan laboured to a 1-0 win over Tajikistan on Wednesday with an own goal earning them a win over a side ranked 20 places higher by FIFA. A fourth win from their last five matches (L1) at least keeps morale high as they return to the bottom tier of the UNL for the first time since 2018/19 after a demoralising campaign in 2024/25 saw them relegated (D1, L5). Their stay in League D will be short-lived owing to the imminent scrapping of this division for the next cycle, but Aykhan Abbasov’s men need to improve their form when it counts. Azerbaijan last won a competitive game in November 2023 (D2, L11), while their only victory away from their own shores since late 2022 came against Estonia (D1, L10).
Head-to-Head History
The H2H record is perfectly balanced with one win apiece and a draw, with Lithuania remaining unbeaten in the two games played this century while keeping a clean sheet on both occasions. This will be the first competitive meeting between the nations.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Only one of Lithuania’s last eight matches saw both teams score.
Eight of Lithuania’s last ten UNL matches were decided by a single-goal margin.
Eleven of Azerbaijan’s last 17 UNL matches produced under 2.5 goals.
Sixteen of Azerbaijan’s last 20 defeats came by 2+ goal margins.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Gvidas Gineitis’ last three competitive goals for Lithuania came at home, twice netting their last match goal. A goal from Emin Mahmudov could snuff out any hopes of a home win as his last six international strikes kept Azerbaijan unbeaten in five games (W4, D1).
Both teams look to have avoided any fresh major injuries from their last games.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Given recent H2Hs and both sides’ attacking struggles, backing under 2.5 goals could be a smart choice.
Author: Sridhar Bhamidi