2021 A Lyga
| File:2021 optibet a lyga.png | |
| Season | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 5 March – November 2021 |
| Champions | Žalgiris |
| Champions League | Žalgiris |
| Matches played | 180 |
| Goals scored | 493 (2.74 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Hugo Videmont (17 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Kauno Žalgiris 5–0 Nevėžis (14 March 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Banga 1–5 Kauno Žalgiris (25 April 2021) |
| Highest scoring | Banga 5–2 Nevėžis (21 April 2021) |
| Longest winning run | 7 matches Sūduva |
| Longest unbeaten run | 12 matches Sūduva |
| Longest winless run | 12 matches Nevėžis |
| Longest losing run | 12 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.
| 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 | File:Symbol question.svg Not sure. |
| DFK Dainava | Lithuania Tomas Ražanauskas | UEFA A |
| FC Džiugas Telšiai | Lithuania Marius Šluta | UEFA B |
| FC Hegelmann Litauen | Lithuania Andrius Skerla | File:Symbol question.svg 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[lower-alpha 1] (R) | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 39 | 56 | −17 | 35 | Relegation to I Lyga |
| 10 | Nevėžis (R) | 36 | 2 | 4 | 30 | 15 | 91 | −76 | 10 |
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:
- ↑ 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
Rounds 19–36
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
- ↑ "A lygos valdybos posėdyje brėžiamos kito sezono gairės". LFF.lt.
- ↑ "Paaiškėjo A lygos licencijų sieksiančių klubų sąrašas". LFF.lt.
- ↑ ""Šiauliai" atsisako minties jau kitąmet keliauti į A lygą". sportas.lt.
- ↑ "Dešimtąja A lygos komanda tapo Alytaus DFK "Dainava"". LFF.lt.
- ↑ ""Dainava" tapo 10-ąja A lygos sezono dalyve". sportas.lt.
- ↑ "Paskutinės minutės sprendimas: pro galines duris į A lygą įleista "Dainava"". 15min.lt/sportas.
- ↑ "LFF vadovas išsamiai: Apie 8,4 MLN. Eurų biudžeto eilutes ir "Jonavos" lažybų dėmę".
- ↑ Vadovaudamasi Lietuvos Respublikos
- ↑ "Karantinas Lietuvoje pratęstas iki vasario 28 dienos, gyventojų judėjimo ribojimai išlieka". lrt.lt. January 27, 2021.
- ↑ "A lyga startuos be žiūrovų. Vasarą galimybę matyti rungtynes turėtų turėti 200 sirgalių". sportas.lt.
- ↑ "Statistika Lietuvoje". koronastop.lrv.lt.
- ↑ "Futbolo klubai krenta kovoje su COVID-19: užsikrėtimų užfiksuota ir "Riteriuose"". 15min.lt/sportas.
- ↑ "Šiuo metu "Riteriuose" yra 19 patvirtintų koronaviruso atvejų".
- ↑ "A Lyga 2021 - Season rules" (DOCX) (in lietuvių). Lithuanian Football Federation. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
External links
- Official website (in Lithuanian and English)