Linfield vs Zalgiris

Linfield and Zalgiris are set to trade tackles at Windsor Park in Belfast in the return leg of their Champions League qualifying tie.

A 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture brought Linfield’s four-match unbeaten run in all competitions to a halt (W3, D1). Including that loss, three of Linfield’s last four games featured over 1.5 first-half goals, with all four producing at least one goal between the 30th and 45th minute. Before going down 2-0 to local rivals Larme in their most recent competitive home outing, the ‘Blues’ had been on an intimidating ten-match winning home streak in all competitions. David Healy’s team netted 2+ goals on each occasion during that ten-game sequence, averaging 3.2 strikes per match. However, the hosts have managed just one clean sheet in six competitive home fixtures, failing to shut out the opposition in the last three in a row. Four of their last five home goals conceded have come beyond half-time.

Meanwhile, the visitors go into this encounter full of confidence after piecing together an impressive 11-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W9, D2), a sequence that notably yielded eight clean sheets. Equally effective at the other end of the pitch, Zalgiris notched up over 1.5 goals nine times during that 11-match stretch, getting on the scoresheet before half-time in two of their last three competitive outings. The Lithuanian giants have racked up six consecutive matches without losing away from home (W5, D1) since a 2-1 loss to domestic rivals Hegelmann Litauen in early May. Zalgiris’ upturn in road form rests on a rock-solid backline that has kept four away blank sheets in a row ahead of this trip.

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