Английская Википедия:2021 A Lyga
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox football league season
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.
Шаблон:Location map+ Шаблон:Location map+
| Club | Location | Stadium | Surface | Capacity | Seasons in A Lyga |
2020 position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Шаблон:Sort | Gargždai | Gargždai Stadium | Artificial | 2,323 | 8 | 4th |
| — | — | — | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | 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 | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Telšiai | Telšiai Central Stadium | Natural | 2,400 | 1 | 4th in LFF I lyga |
| Ateitis Progymnasium Stadium | — | — | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Kaunas | LFF Kaunas training center stadium | Artificial | 500 | 1 | 2nd in LFF I lyga |
| — | — | — | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Kaunas | SM Tauras Stadium | Natural | 500 | 7 | 3rd |
| NFA Stadium | Artificial | 500 | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Kėdainiai | Kėdainiai Stadium | Artificial | 3,000 | 6 | 1st in LFF I lyga |
| Central Stadium of Jonava | Natural | 2,000 | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Panevėžys | Aukštaitija Stadium | Natural | 6,600 | 3 | 5th |
| Žemyna Progymnasium Stadium | Artificial | 500 | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Vilnius | LFF Stadium | Artificial | 5,067 | 8 | 6th |
| Sportima Arena | Artificial | 3,157 | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Marijampolė | Sūduva Stadium (Hikvision Arena) |
Natural | 6,250 | 19 | 2nd |
| Marijampolė Football Indoor Arena (Hikvision FIA) |
Artificial | 2,660 | ||||
| Шаблон:Sort | Vilnius | LFF Stadium | Artificial | 5,067 | 20 | 1st |
| Sportima Arena | Artificial | 3,157 |
2021 competitors
Personnel
| Team | Coach | License |
|---|---|---|
| FK Banga | Шаблон:Flagicon David Afonso | Шаблон:Notsure |
| DFK Dainava | Шаблон:Flagicon Tomas Ražanauskas | UEFA A |
| FC Džiugas Telšiai | Шаблон:Flagicon Marius Šluta | UEFA B |
| FC Hegelmann Litauen | Шаблон:Flagicon Andrius Skerla | Шаблон:Notsure |
| FK Kauno Žalgiris | Шаблон:Flagicon Rokas Garastas | UEFA Pro |
| FK Nevėžis | Шаблон:Flagicon Darius Gvildys (on temporary basis) | UEFA A |
| FK Panevėžys | Шаблон:Flagicon João Luís Martins | UEFA A |
| FK Riteriai | Шаблон:Flagicon Miguel Moreira | UEFA Pro |
| FK Sūduva | Шаблон:Flagicon Víctor Basadre | UEFA Pro |
| FK Žalgiris | Шаблон:Flagicon 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 | — | Шаблон:Flagicon Luís Olim | 22 December 2020 |
| FC Hegelmann Litauen | Шаблон:Flagicon Artūras Ramoška | reassigned as goalkeeping coach | 2 January 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon Andrius Skerla | 2 January 2021 |
| FK Sūduva | Шаблон:Flagicon Saulius Širmelis | end of contract | November 2020 | Шаблон:Flagicon Víctor Basadre | 3 January 2021 |
| FK Žalgiris | Шаблон:Flagicon Aleksey Baga | resigned | December 2020 | Шаблон:Flagicon Vladimir Cheburin | 11 January 2021 |
| FK Riteriai | Шаблон:Flagicon Tommi Pikkarainen | new manager appointed | 8 February 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon Sergei Gurenko | 8 February 2021 |
| DFK Dainava | Шаблон:Flagicon Fabio Mazzone | resigned | 12 April 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon Tomas Ražanauskas | 21 April 2021 |
| FK Nevėžis | Шаблон:Flagicon Vitalijus Stankevičius | by mutual consent | 17 May 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon Darius Gvildys (on temporary basis) | 18 May 2021 |
| FK Riteriai | Шаблон:Flagicon Sergei Gurenko | end of probationary contract | 31 May 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon Valdas Trakys (on temporary basis) | 9 June 2021 |
| FK Banga | Шаблон:Flagicon Tomas Tamošauskas | sacked | 3 June 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon David Afonso | 3 June 2021 |
| FK Riteriai | Шаблон:Flagicon Valdas Trakys | permanent manager appointed | 3 August 2021 | Шаблон:Flagicon 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
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL |source=Flashscore
|team1=ZAL |team2=SUD |team3=KAU |team4=PAN |team5=HEG |team6=RIT |team7=BAN |team8=DZI |team9=DAI |team10=NEV
|result1=CL1Q |result2=ECLQ1 |result3=ECL1Q |result4=ECL1Q |result9=REL |result10=REL
|update=complete |win_BAN=10|draw_BAN=6 |loss_BAN=20|gf_BAN=40|ga_BAN=71 |win_DAI=9 |draw_DAI=11|loss_DAI=16|gf_DAI=39|ga_DAI=56 |win_DZI=8 |draw_DZI=12|loss_DZI=16|gf_DZI=47|ga_DZI=60 |win_HEG=14|draw_HEG=11|loss_HEG=11|gf_HEG=53|ga_HEG=38 |win_KAU=18|draw_KAU=9 |loss_KAU=9 |gf_KAU=55|ga_KAU=39 |win_NEV=2 |draw_NEV=4 |loss_NEV=30|gf_NEV=15|ga_NEV=91 |win_PAN=16|draw_PAN=12|loss_PAN=8 |gf_PAN=55|ga_PAN=40 |win_RIT=10|draw_RIT=16|loss_RIT=10|gf_RIT=49|ga_RIT=37 |win_SUD=21|draw_SUD=7 |loss_SUD=8 |gf_SUD=64|ga_SUD=33 |win_ZAL=23|draw_ZAL=10|loss_ZAL=3 |gf_ZAL=76|ga_ZAL=28
|status_ZAL=C |status_DAI=R |status_NEV=R
|name_BAN=Banga |name_DAI=Dainava |name_DZI=Džiugas |name_HEG=Hegelmann Litauen |name_KAU=Kauno Žalgiris |name_NEV=Nevėžis |name_PAN=Panevėžys |name_RIT=Riteriai |name_SUD=Sūduva |name_ZAL=Žalgiris
|adjust_points_DAI=-3 |note_DAI=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.
|show_limit=5 |class_rules = 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]
|res_col_header=QR |col_CL1Q=green1 |text_CL1Q=Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round |col_ECLQ1=yellow1 |text_ECLQ1=Qualification for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round |col_ECL1Q=yellow2 |text_ECL1Q=Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round |col_REL=red1 |text_REL=Relegation to I Lyga }}
Fixtures and results
Rounds 1–18
{{#invoke:sports results|main | source = Flashscore | update = complete | matches_style = FBR | team1 = BAN |team2 = DAI | team3 = DZI | team4 = HEG | team5 = KAU | team6 = NEV | team7 = PAN | team8 = RIT | team9 = SUD | team10 = ZAL
|name_BAN=Banga |name_DAI=Dainava |name_DZI=Džiugas |name_HEG=Hegelmann Litauen |name_KAU=Kauno Žalgiris |name_NEV=Nevėžis |name_PAN=Panevėžys |name_RIT=Riteriai |name_SUD=Sūduva |name_ZAL=Žalgiris
| match_BAN_DAI = 2–0 | match_BAN_DZI = 1–0 | match_BAN_HEG = 0–2 | match_BAN_KAU = 1–5 | match_BAN_NEV = 5–2 | match_BAN_PAN = 2–2 | match_BAN_RIT = 0–2 | match_BAN_SUD = 1–2 | match_BAN_ZAL = 1–3
| match_DAI_BAN = 3–1 | match_DAI_DZI = 1–1 | match_DAI_HEG = 1–2 | match_DAI_KAU = 0–1 | match_DAI_NEV = 0–2 | match_DAI_PAN = 1–3 | match_DAI_RIT = 1–1 | match_DAI_SUD = 1–1 | match_DAI_ZAL = 2–4
| match_DZI_BAN = 1–1 | match_DZI_DAI = 2–3 | match_DZI_HEG = 2–1 | match_DZI_KAU = 1–1 | match_DZI_NEV = 3–0 | match_DZI_PAN = 0–2 | match_DZI_RIT = 1–4 | match_DZI_SUD = 2–1 | match_DZI_ZAL = 0–3
| match_HEG_BAN = 0–1 | match_HEG_DAI = 0–1 | match_HEG_DZI = 1–1 | match_HEG_KAU = 2–3 | match_HEG_NEV = 2–0 | match_HEG_PAN = 0–0 | match_HEG_RIT = 2–0 | match_HEG_SUD = 0–1 | match_HEG_ZAL = 2–1
| match_KAU_BAN = 1–0 | match_KAU_DAI = 1–0 | match_KAU_DZI = 1–0 | match_KAU_HEG = 2–2 | match_KAU_NEV = 5–0 | match_KAU_PAN = 1–2 | match_KAU_RIT = 2–1 | match_KAU_SUD = 1–0 | match_KAU_ZAL = 0–1
| match_NEV_BAN = 0–2 | match_NEV_DAI = 0–1 | match_NEV_DZI = 2–1 | match_NEV_HEG = 0–1 | match_NEV_KAU = 1–2 | match_NEV_PAN = 0–1 | match_NEV_RIT = 0–0 | match_NEV_SUD = 0–2 | match_NEV_ZAL = 0–3
| match_PAN_BAN = 4–2 | match_PAN_DAI = 3–0 | match_PAN_DZI = 1–0 | match_PAN_HEG = 2–2 | match_PAN_KAU = 2–1 | match_PAN_NEV = 4–2 | match_PAN_RIT = 1–1 | match_PAN_SUD = 0–0 | match_PAN_ZAL = 0–2
| match_RIT_BAN = 3–0 | match_RIT_DAI = 2–2 | match_RIT_DZI = 1–1 | match_RIT_HEG = 1–3 | match_RIT_KAU = 1–2 | match_RIT_NEV = 4–0 | match_RIT_PAN = 2–0 | match_RIT_SUD = 1–1 | match_RIT_ZAL = 1–1
| match_SUD_BAN = 4–0 | match_SUD_DAI = 3–1 | match_SUD_DZI = 2–1 | match_SUD_HEG = 2–0 | match_SUD_KAU = 2–1 | match_SUD_NEV = 1–0 | match_SUD_PAN = 0–1 | match_SUD_RIT = 2–0 | match_SUD_ZAL = 0–2
| match_ZAL_BAN = 2–0 | match_ZAL_DAI = 5–1 | match_ZAL_DZI = 2–2 | match_ZAL_HEG = 2–0 | match_ZAL_KAU = 2–2 | match_ZAL_NEV = 2–0 | match_ZAL_PAN = 1–0 | match_ZAL_RIT = 2–0 | match_ZAL_SUD = 1–2 }}
Rounds 19–36
{{#invoke:sports results|main | source = Flashscore | update = complete | matches_style = FBR | team1 = BAN |team2 = DAI | team3 = DZI | team4 = HEG | team5 = KAU | team6 = NEV | team7 = PAN | team8 = RIT | team9 = SUD | team10 = ZAL
|name_BAN=Banga |name_DAI=Dainava |name_DZI=Džiugas |name_HEG=Hegelmann Litauen |name_KAU=Kauno Žalgiris |name_NEV=Nevėžis |name_PAN=Panevėžys |name_RIT=Riteriai |name_SUD=Sūduva |name_ZAL=Žalgiris
| match_BAN_DAI = 1–1 | match_BAN_DZI = 2–1 | match_BAN_HEG = 1–4 | match_BAN_KAU = 2–3 | match_BAN_NEV = 3–1 | match_BAN_PAN = 2–1 | match_BAN_RIT = 1–1 | match_BAN_SUD = 0–2 | match_BAN_ZAL = 0–3
| match_DAI_BAN = 3–1 | match_DAI_DZI = 3–2 | match_DAI_HEG = 1–1 | match_DAI_KAU = 0–1 | match_DAI_NEV = 1–1 | match_DAI_PAN = 1–2 | match_DAI_RIT = 2–1 | match_DAI_SUD = 1–2 | match_DAI_ZAL = 0–2
| match_DZI_BAN = 1–1 | match_DZI_DAI = 1–1 | match_DZI_HEG = 2–1 | match_DZI_KAU = 1–5 | match_DZI_NEV = 2–0 | match_DZI_PAN = 2–2 | match_DZI_RIT = 2–0 | match_DZI_SUD = 2–3 | match_DZI_ZAL = 2–1
| match_HEG_BAN = 4–1 | match_HEG_DAI = 1–1 | match_HEG_DZI = 1–1 | match_HEG_KAU = 1–2 | match_HEG_NEV = 2–0 | match_HEG_PAN = 1–0 | match_HEG_RIT = 0–0 | match_HEG_SUD = 2–1 | match_HEG_ZAL = 1–1
| match_KAU_BAN = 0–1 | match_KAU_DAI = 2–0 | match_KAU_DZI = 0–1 | match_KAU_HEG = 2–1 | match_KAU_NEV = 2–0 | match_KAU_PAN = 1–1 | match_KAU_RIT = 1–1 | match_KAU_SUD = 3–3 | match_KAU_ZAL = 0–2
| match_NEV_BAN = 0–3 | match_NEV_DAI = 0–1 | match_NEV_DZI = 1–1 | match_NEV_HEG = 0–6 | match_NEV_KAU = 1–1 | match_NEV_PAN = 1–3 | match_NEV_RIT = 0–6 | match_NEV_SUD = 0–3 | match_NEV_ZAL = 1–3
| match_PAN_BAN = 3–1 | match_PAN_DAI = 0–0 | match_PAN_DZI = 2–2 | match_PAN_HEG = 2–2 | match_PAN_KAU = 4–0 | match_PAN_NEV = 3–0 | match_PAN_RIT = 0–2 | match_PAN_SUD = 1–1 | match_PAN_ZAL = 1–1
| match_RIT_BAN = 0–0 | match_RIT_DAI = 2–1 | match_RIT_DZI = 3–2 | match_RIT_HEG = 0–0 | match_RIT_KAU = 0–0 | match_RIT_NEV = 4–0 | match_RIT_PAN = 1–2 | match_RIT_SUD = 1–3 | match_RIT_ZAL = 0–0
| match_SUD_BAN = 4–0 | match_SUD_DAI = 0–1 | match_SUD_DZI = 3–1 | match_SUD_HEG = 1–2 | match_SUD_KAU = 2–0 | match_SUD_NEV = 2–0 | match_SUD_PAN = 3–0 | match_SUD_RIT = 1–1 | match_SUD_ZAL = 2–2
| match_ZAL_BAN = 3–0 | match_ZAL_DAI = 2-2 | match_ZAL_DZI = 3–2 | match_ZAL_HEG = 2–1 | match_ZAL_KAU = 0–0 | match_ZAL_NEV = 6–0 | match_ZAL_PAN = 2–0 | match_ZAL_RIT = 1–1 | match_ZAL_SUD = 3–2 }}
Statistics
Top goalscorers
| Goals | Assists | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 12 | Шаблон:Flagicon Hugo Videmont | FK Žalgiris |
| 16 | 5 | Шаблон:Flagicon Nauris Petkevičius | FC Hegelmann Litauen |
| 16 | 2 | Шаблон:Flagicon Saïd Hamulic | DFK Dainava |
| 12 | 1 | Шаблон:Flagicon Mindaugas Grigaravičius | FK Riteriai |
| 11 | 2 | Шаблон:Flagicon Nasko Milev | FC Džiugas |
| 11 | 2 | Шаблон:Flagicon Simonas Urbys | FK Banga Gargždai |
| 10 | 5 | Шаблон:Flagicon Josip Tadić | FK Žalgiris |
| 10 | 2 | Шаблон:Flagicon Jorge Elias | FK Panevėžys |
| 10 | 2 | Шаблон:Flagicon Linas Pilibaitis | FK Kauno Žalgiris |
See also
References
External links
Шаблон:A Lyga seasons Шаблон:2021 in Lithuanian football Шаблон:2020–21 in European football (UEFA) Шаблон:2021–22 in European football (UEFA)
