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A Lyga
Season2021
Dates5 March – November 2021
ChampionsŽalgiris
Champions LeagueŽalgiris
Matches played180
Goals scored493 (2.74 per match)
Top goalscorerHugo Videmont
(17 goals)
Biggest home winKauno Žalgiris 5–0 Nevėžis
(14 March 2021)
Biggest away winBanga 1–5 Kauno Žalgiris
(25 April 2021)
Highest scoringBanga 5–2 Nevėžis
(21 April 2021)
Longest winning run7 matches
Sūduva
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
Sūduva
Longest winless run12 matches
Nevėžis
Longest losing run12 matches
Nevėžis
← 2020
2022 →
All statistics correct as of 29 May 2021.

The 2021 A Lyga, for sponsorship reasons also called Optibet A lyga is the 32nd season of the A Lyga, the top-tier football league of Lithuania. The season began on 5 March and concluded on 28 November 2021.

Teams

FK Žalgiris started the season as defending champions. None of the 6 last year's teams were relegated, and 4 teams were promoted to A lyga.[1]

Licensing process

In addition to sporting principles of promotion and relegation, the teams and clubs need to pass rigorous licensing process. Because of this, promotion and relegation does not always follow the rights achieved by sporting principle. A total of 12 teams applied for A lyga license:

The 6 previous season's teams:

FK Žalgiris, FK Sūduva Marijampolė, FK Kauno Žalgiris, FK Panevėžys, FK Banga Gargždai and FK Riteriai met licensing criteria and received a straight pass to their licenses.

Top 4 2020 LFF I Lyga teams:

FK „Nevėžis“ (Kėdainiai), FC „Hegelmann Litauen“ (Kaunas), FK „Jonava“ (Jonava), FC „Džiugas“ (Telšiai) have all applied. FK Nevėžis and FC Hegelmann Litauen got their licenses straight away. FC Džiugas has been granted a license after an appeal. FK Jonava failed to meet all licensing criteria and were not issued a license. The club appealed, the appeal was rejected, then the club requested participation by exception — a method used by Lithuanian Football Federation to make up numbers in the league after licensing fails. The request was also rejected by LFF council's vote in favour to 6th placed DFK Dainava.

Other 2020 LFF I Lyga teams:[2]

FA „Šiauliai“ (Šiauliai), DFK „Dainava“ (Alytus). FA Šiauliai later withdrew from licensing process, claiming that the team is not yet ready for top division football.[3] DFK Dainava failed licensing criteria, however after FK Jonava's failure to meet licensing criteria, DFK Dainava were invited to request participation by exception, and were ultimately promoted to the A lyga.[4][5]

The controversial decision to drop FK Jonava and promote DFK Dainava was justified by the fact that FK Jonava have pending investigation to allegations of match fixing in the 2020 season. The LFF have issued sanctions and fines against three players and the club, however FK Jonava deny allegations of involvement in match fixing in the three matches that are being investigated and have appealed. The LFF have also revealed that a warning letter has been issued to FK Jonava in relation to the team's coach, who has been reportedly involved in match fixing in his previous career.[6][7]

Changes

FK Nevėžis (Kėdainiai), FC Hegelmann Litauen (Kaunas), FC Džiugas (Telšiai) and DFK Dainava (Alytus), the latter three teams promoted to the top-flight for the first time in their history, were promoted from the 2020 LFF I Lyga.

class=notpageimage|
Home towns of the 2020 A Lyga teams
class=notpageimage|
Kaunas teams
2021 A Lyga competitors
Club Location Stadium Surface Capacity Seasons
in A Lyga 		2020 position
Banga Gargždai Gargždai Stadium Artificial 2,323 8 4th
— — —
Dainava Alytus Alytus Stadium Natural 3,790 1 6th in LFF I lyga
Dainava Progymnasium Stadium Artificial —
Marijampolė Football Indoor Arena
(Hikvision FIA) 		Artificial 2,660
Džiugas Telšiai Telšiai Central Stadium Natural 2,400 1 4th in LFF I lyga
Ateitis Progymnasium Stadium — —
Hegelmann Litauen Kaunas LFF Kaunas training center stadium Artificial 500 1 2nd in LFF I lyga
— — —
Kauno Žalgiris Kaunas SM Tauras Stadium Natural 500 7 3rd
NFA Stadium Artificial 500
Nevėžis Kėdainiai Kėdainiai Stadium Artificial 3,000 6 1st in LFF I lyga
Central Stadium of Jonava Natural 2,000
Panevėžys Panevėžys Aukštaitija Stadium Natural 6,600 3 5th
Žemyna Progymnasium Stadium Artificial 500
Riteriai Vilnius LFF Stadium Artificial 5,067 8 6th
Sportima Arena Artificial 3,157
Sūduva Marijampolė Sūduva Stadium
(Hikvision Arena) 		Natural 6,250 19 2nd
Marijampolė Football Indoor Arena
(Hikvision FIA) 		Artificial 2,660
Žalgiris Vilnius LFF Stadium Artificial 5,067 20 1st
Sportima Arena Artificial 3,157

2021 competitors

Personnel

Team Coach License
FK Banga Portugal David Afonso Not sure.
DFK Dainava Lithuania Tomas Ražanauskas UEFA A
FC Džiugas Telšiai Lithuania Marius Šluta UEFA B
FC Hegelmann Litauen Lithuania Andrius Skerla Not sure.
FK Kauno Žalgiris Lithuania Rokas Garastas UEFA Pro
FK Nevėžis Lithuania Darius Gvildys (on temporary basis) UEFA A
FK Panevėžys Portugal João Luís Martins UEFA A
FK Riteriai Portugal Miguel Moreira UEFA Pro
FK Sūduva Spain Víctor Basadre UEFA Pro
FK Žalgiris Kazakhstan Vladimir Cheburin UEFA Pro

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of appointment
FK Panevėžys — addition to coaching team — Portugal Luís Olim 22 December 2020
FC Hegelmann Litauen Lithuania Artūras Ramoška reassigned as goalkeeping coach 2 January 2021 Lithuania Andrius Skerla 2 January 2021
FK Sūduva Lithuania Saulius Širmelis end of contract November 2020 Spain Víctor Basadre 3 January 2021
FK Žalgiris Belarus Aleksey Baga resigned December 2020 Kazakhstan Vladimir Cheburin 11 January 2021
FK Riteriai Finland Tommi Pikkarainen new manager appointed 8 February 2021 Belarus Sergei Gurenko 8 February 2021
DFK Dainava Italy Fabio Mazzone resigned 12 April 2021 Lithuania Tomas Ražanauskas 21 April 2021
FK Nevėžis Lithuania Vitalijus Stankevičius by mutual consent 17 May 2021 Lithuania Darius Gvildys (on temporary basis) 18 May 2021
FK Riteriai Belarus Sergei Gurenko end of probationary contract 31 May 2021 Lithuania Valdas Trakys (on temporary basis) 9 June 2021
FK Banga Lithuania Tomas Tamošauskas sacked 3 June 2021 Portugal David Afonso 3 June 2021
FK Riteriai Lithuania Valdas Trakys permanent manager appointed 3 August 2021 Portugal Miguel Moreira 3 August 2021

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

As soon as 2020 A Lyga season has completed, on 7 November 2020 COVID-19 quarantine was reintroduced in Lithuania,[8] and extended several times. At the beginning of February, at the time LFF were building fixtures calendar, the quarantine was set to last until 28 February.[9]

It is expected that at the beginning of the championship the matches will take place without spectators. Under the government's proposal, the matches can be attended by 100 spectators when the rate of COVID-19 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 day period will drop below 50. The matches can be attended by 200 spectators when COVID-19 cases will drop below 25.[10] On 4 February infection rate was 395.3.[11]

Approaching the start date of the championship, scheduled for 5 March 2021, the clubs performed mandatory COVID-19 testing. Three clubs have reported infections among the players and their fixtures have been postponed. FK Žalgiris reported 7 positive cases of COVID-19, FK Panevėžys - 6, FK Riteriai initially did not reveal the number,[12] but it was later revealed that 19 players and staff were tested positive.[13]

Regular season

The season has kicked off as scheduled on 5 March. Each team will play four matches with all other teams this season.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Žalgiris (C) 36 23 10 3 76 28 +48 79 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Sūduva 36 21 7 8 64 33 +31 70 Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round
3 Kauno Žalgiris 36 18 9 9 55 39 +16 63 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round
4 Panevėžys 36 16 12 8 55 40 +15 60
5 Hegelmann Litauen 36 14 11 11 53 38 +15 53
6 Riteriai 36 10 16 10 49 37 +12 46
7 Banga 36 10 6 20 40 71 −31 36
8 Džiugas 36 8 12 16 47 60 −13 36
9 Dainava[a] (R) 36 9 11 16 39 56 −17 35 Relegation to I Lyga
10 Nevėžis (R) 36 2 4 30 15 91 −76 10
Source: Flashscore
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Play-off (for champion only) 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Head-to-head matches won; 7) Goal difference; 8) Goals scored; 9) Matches won; 10) Fairplay ranking ; 11) Draw.[14]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ DFK Dainava started the season with 3 points deducted as the club had not met licensing criteria but were granted participation under the rule of exception.

Fixtures and results

Rounds 1–18

Home \ Away BAN DAI DZI HEG KAU NEV PAN RIT SUD ZAL
Banga — 2–0 1–0 0–2 1–5 5–2 2–2 0–2 1–2 1–3
Dainava 3–1 — 1–1 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–4
Džiugas 1–1 2–3 — 2–1 1–1 3–0 0–2 1–4 2–1 0–3
Hegelmann Litauen 0–1 0–1 1–1 — 2–3 2–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 2–1
Kauno Žalgiris 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 — 5–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 0–1
Nevėžis 0–2 0–1 2–1 0–1 1–2 — 0–1 0–0 0–2 0–3
Panevėžys 4–2 3–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 4–2 — 1–1 0–0 0–2
Riteriai 3–0 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–2 4–0 2–0 — 1–1 1–1
Sūduva 4–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 0–1 2–0 — 0–2
Žalgiris 2–0 5–1 2–2 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–0 2–0 1–2 —
Source: Flashscore
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Rounds 19–36

Home \ Away BAN DAI DZI HEG KAU NEV PAN RIT SUD ZAL
Banga — 1–1 2–1 1–4 2–3 3–1 2–1 1–1 0–2 0–3
Dainava 3–1 — 3–2 1–1 0–1 1–1 1–2 2–1 1–2 0–2
Džiugas 1–1 1–1 — 2–1 1–5 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–3 2–1
Hegelmann Litauen 4–1 1–1 1–1 — 1–2 2–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1
Kauno Žalgiris 0–1 2–0 0–1 2–1 — 2–0 1–1 1–1 3–3 0–2
Nevėžis 0–3 0–1 1–1 0–6 1–1 — 1–3 0–6 0–3 1–3
Panevėžys 3–1 0–0 2–2 2–2 4–0 3–0 — 0–2 1–1 1–1
Riteriai 0–0 2–1 3–2 0–0 0–0 4–0 1–2 — 1–3 0–0
Sūduva 4–0 0–1 3–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 3–0 1–1 — 2–2
Žalgiris 3–0 2–2 3–2 2–1 0–0 6–0 2–0 1–1 3–2 —
Source: Flashscore
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Goals Assists Player Club
17 12 France Hugo Videmont FK Žalgiris
16 5 Lithuania Nauris Petkevičius FC Hegelmann Litauen
16 2 Netherlands Saïd Hamulic DFK Dainava
12 1 Lithuania Mindaugas Grigaravičius FK Riteriai
11 2 Bulgaria Nasko Milev FC Džiugas
11 2 Lithuania Simonas Urbys FK Banga Gargždai
10 5 Croatia Josip Tadić FK Žalgiris
10 2 Brazil Jorge Elias FK Panevėžys
10 2 Lithuania Linas Pilibaitis FK Kauno Žalgiris

See also

References

  1. ^ "A lygos valdybos posėdyje brėžiamos kito sezono gairės". LFF.lt.
  2. ^ "Paaiškėjo A lygos licencijų sieksiančių klubų sąrašas". LFF.lt.
  3. ^ ""Šiauliai" atsisako minties jau kitąmet keliauti į A lygą". sportas.lt.
  4. ^ "Dešimtąja A lygos komanda tapo Alytaus DFK "Dainava"". LFF.lt.
  5. ^ ""Dainava" tapo 10-ąja A lygos sezono dalyve". sportas.lt.
  6. ^ "Paskutinės minutės sprendimas: pro galines duris į A lygą įleista "Dainava"". 15min.lt/sportas.
  7. ^ "LFF vadovas išsamiai: Apie 8,4 MLN. Eurų biudžeto eilutes ir "Jonavos" lažybų dėmę".
  8. ^ Vadovaudamasi Lietuvos Respublikos
  9. ^ "Karantinas Lietuvoje pratęstas iki vasario 28 dienos, gyventojų judėjimo ribojimai išlieka". lrt.lt. January 27, 2021.
  10. ^ "A lyga startuos be žiūrovų. Vasarą galimybę matyti rungtynes turėtų turėti 200 sirgalių". sportas.lt.
  11. ^ "Statistika Lietuvoje". koronastop.lrv.lt.
  12. ^ "Futbolo klubai krenta kovoje su COVID-19: užsikrėtimų užfiksuota ir "Riteriuose"". 15min.lt/sportas.
  13. ^ "Šiuo metu "Riteriuose" yra 19 patvirtintų koronaviruso atvejų".
  14. ^ "A Lyga 2021 - Season rules" (DOCX) (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian Football Federation. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_A_Lyga