With the club football season starting, and the UEFA Champions League returning to television screens next week, the revamped show "7 Added Minutes” is also kicking off. In it, legendary commentator Nerijus Kesminas and former football player, now following in Nerijus' footsteps in commentary, Ervinas Kvitkauskas, will look into football news.
The duo has focused a lot on Lithuanian football, as there were definitely opportunities to celebrate this time. Valdas Dambrauskas became the first Lithuanian coach to reach the UEFA Champions League. He did this with Baku "Sabah".
At the same time, Kaunas "Žalgiris" broke into the UEFA Europa Conference League and became the second team to reach the main stage of the European tournament. Until now, only Vilnius "Žalgiris" managed to do so in 2022.
When asked which achievement he considers greater – Dambrauskas reaching the Champions League or the Kaunas team's journey to the Conference League – Kesminas slightly elevated the accomplishment of the best Lithuanian coach.
"Maybe Dambrauskas due to personal sympathies,” said Kesminas. "I really want to wish that person success because of their dedication and selflessness at work. He proved that he is not just a perennial unemployed coach who messes everything up (laughs). He is a gifted, talented young coach.
It’s a joy for "Žalgiris” as well, of course. We don’t get into the Conference League every year; it’s only the second case in the history of Lithuanian football. Of course, we are very happy for them.”
Nerijus is happy not only about Dambrauskas's dream coming true, but he also looks to the future hoping it can become a springboard in his career.
"I believe that with "Sabah” he can still achieve a lot. Of course, when you are a coach in the Champions League, the question is whether you will even stay long in that "Sabah” club. Play a couple of good matches in the main stage, get some unexpected points, and you might attract attention. It can be a springboard to much bigger leagues,” Kesminas speculated.
At that moment, Kvitkauskas noted the environment that Dambrauskas has in his current club.
"From what I’ve heard, Valdas said that "Sabah” is the second club in his career where he has completely free hands, where he feels complete trust, and everyone working inside is working for the club’s benefit,” Kvitkauskas recounted.
After the draw, it became clear that Dambrauskas's team faced one of the toughest opponents’ packs: Manchester United (away), Prague "Slavia” (home), Dortmund "Borussia” (home), Stavanger "Viking” (away), "Barcelona” (home), "Villarreal” (away), "Napoli” (home), and London "Arsenal” (away).
"I think they could realistically aim for 5-6 points,” assessed Kesminas of Dambrauskas's team’s chances. "There is "Slavia”, there is "Viking”… Of course, it could also be 2-3 points, who knows. I don’t think it will be zero. But first, they need to grab "Slavia” and "Viking”. It will be very difficult everywhere else. I don’t see "Sabah” in the knockout stage.”
No less positivity for Lithuanian football came from Kaunas "Žalgiris”, who made it into the Conference League. The Lithuanian team faced Istanbul "Beşiktaş” in the last UEFA Europa League qualifying round and managed to beat the Turkish giant 1:0 at home.
Although in the first match in Istanbul the result favored the Turks, Kvitkauskas believes that the fact of winning at home is significant for the Lithuanian club.
"The fact that the score from the first match made a big impact. For any person who didn’t watch the match, not necessarily a Lithuanian, but say a Greek who knows "Beşiktaş” – they look at the result and think: "Oh, interesting, what kind of "Žalgiris” is this? What players do they have?” This is still a very positive thing, which is not commonly found in our football,” said Kvitkauskas.
In total, three more clubs represented Lithuania this summer in European tournament qualifiers: Kaunas region "Hegelmann” fell to the Estonian "Paide” in the first round. Starting from the second round, "Panevėžys” faced off against Kazakh club "Tobol”, but lost in the penalty shootout.
Vilnius "Žalgiris” went the farthest – defeating "Petrovac” from Montenegro and pulling off a miracle against Tbilisi "Dinamo” (Georgia), they hit a wall at the third stage against the Croatian vice-champion Split "Hajduk”.
"I didn't have any disappointments at all. Well, maybe "Hegelmann”, said Kesminas. "But still, we are talking about the eighth Lithuanian team at the moment. And all the other teams – "Panevėžys” played very honorably. Vilnius "Žalgiris” had a contradictory season, but the 7:2 victory against Tbilisi "Dinamo” redeems everything.”
It is the impressive victory of Vilnius "Žalgiris” against the Tbilisi club that seems to Kvitkauskas like one of those evenings that remain in the memory of football fans for decades. Having lost 0:3 away, the capital club managed to bounce back at home and triumphed 7:2 to advance to the next stage.
"This will forever remain in people’s minds. Those who were at the stadium will remember it even after 20 years. The miracle of Liepkalnis, it’s nice that it was given,” Kvitkauskas rejoiced.
Meanwhile, Kaunas "Žalgiris”, who extended their European season, have several notable opponents waiting in the Conference League. The Kaunas team will play against "Brighton” (away), "Brann” (home), "Lugano” (away), "Riga” (home), "Egnatia” (away) and "Freiburg” (home).
Kvitkauskas particularly singled out the clubs from England and Germany.
"Interesting opponents, there are big names against whom it will be nice to test yourself. Brighton, the "Amex” stadium, a beautiful place – southern England, by the sea,” Ervinas said. "The Freiburg team may not be the most famous name you can tell an average person and pique their interest. But it is really a well-organized German team, and such teams don’t often come to Lithuania.”
However, there will also be opponents that, in his opinion, the Kaunas team can seriously consider for points or even victory.
"The team with the best chances to fight for victory would be the Riga club,” the former footballer assured. "Although the budget there is uncontrollable, as much as they need – that’s how much they can spend. We know that money comes from countries we wouldn’t want to talk about. But it’s not a scary opponent, especially knowing that the Kaunas team will play at home, they can certainly fight for victory.
The Albanian club also looks like a name against which you can win. As for "Brann” and "Lugano” – they are strong mid-table teams that can be competitive, but they are not elite teams.
The conversation also shifted to the Lithuanian league, where unexpectedly Marijampolė "Sūduva” is in the lead. Currently, they have accumulated 45 points from 24 matches, while second-place Kaunas "Žalgiris” has 39 points from 23 matches.
"This is the most stable Lithuanian team, they play really without dips,” Kesminas said about "Sūduva”. "Now, I think, only Kaunas "Žalgiris” can catch them, no one else. If before the season someone had said that "Sūduva” would be the champion, I would have said: ‘Go check yourself.’ If now they say that "Sūduva” will become the champion, I would say: ‘Okay.’ 50-60 percent, no less.”
Moreover, Nerijus has already dared to make a pretty specific prediction for the final table.
"I boldly predict now that "Sūduva” will become champion. Second will be Kaunas, and third – Vilnius "Žalgiris”, despite their difficulties,” Kesminas predicted.
From Lithuanian football topics, the conversation moved on to the Champions League. Although next week there will be a total of 18 matches, the show hosts picked out the five most intriguing confrontations and presented their predictions.
"United” – "Sabah”
First of all – Valdas Dambrauskas and "Sabah”'s visit to the legendary "Old Trafford” stadium, where the Azerbaijani club will meet "Manchester United”.
"Of course, our eyes will be focused here very sharply. The "Old Trafford” stadium… Impressive. Let’s not elaborate further and just make predictions,” Kvitkauskas said.
Predictions:
Nerijus Kesminas: "Manchester United” 2:0 "Sabah”
Ervinas Kvitkauskas: "Manchester United” 1:1 "Sabah”
"Real” – "Inter”
Another sharp match in the first round – the clash between Madrid "Real” and Milan "Inter” in the Spanish capital.
"Real” will find it difficult, as "Inter” has enough quality to defend themselves,” Kesminas said. "In Madrid, they certainly will not play as the first number. The start is important; everyone wants to open with a victory. I suspect "Real” is not very happy to have received "Inter” players in the first match. But, well, I still suspect they will manage.”
Predictions:
Nerijus Kesminas: "Real” 2-0 "Inter”
Ervinas Kvitkauskas: "Real” 3-1 "Inter”
"Napoli” – "Arsenal”
In another intriguing duel, "Napoli” will host London "Arsenal” at home. Looking at the conflict, Kesminas first reminded of the London team's stability in the Champions League last season.
"Let’s remember that "Arsenal” was the only team last season that won all its matches in the group stage. Mikel Arteta doesn’t play those games and rotates very little,” the commentator stated.
Predictions:
Nerijus Kesminas: "Napoli” 0:1 "Arsenal”
Ervinas Kvitkauskas: "Napoli” 0:2 "Arsenal”
"Liverpool” – "Atletico”
Moving on to the duel between Madrid "Atletico” and "Liverpool”, the show hosts pointed out the latter's difficult start to the season.
"The Liverpool team is currently not convincing at all. It seems even worse than last season. Of course, it’s just the start of the season, but…” Kesminas said.
Predictions:
Nerijus Kesminas: "Liverpool” 0:1 "Atletico”
Ervinas Kvitkauskas: "Liverpool” 2:2 "Atletico”
"Porto” – "City”
Although the Manchester club started the season in England with two victories, Kesminas still looked nervously at the radical changes in the team during the offseason.
"City’s changes in the squad worry me as they let go of Rodri, let go of three other main squad players, of course, and Pep’s exit,” Nerijus spoke. "Yes, the start of the season for them is not bad, but in Portugal, it’s always tough, so I expect a sensation.”
Predictions:
Nerijus Kesminas: "Porto” 1:0 "Manchester City”
Ervinas Kvitkauskas: "Porto” 1:2 "Manchester City”
"Premier” League
After the intrigues of the Champions League, attention shifted to national championships. In the English "Premier” League, one of the most prominent matches of the weekend became the clash between "Chelsea” and "Brighton” in London, which the hosts won 4:3.
"The hottest, highest-scoring, and most emotional match,” Kvitkauskas announced the meeting. "It seemed that "Chelsea” would completely crush the guests as they scored three goals in half an hour, but the visitors bounced back.”
I really like what Xabi Alonso is doing with "Chelsea”, I believe in this coach. Of course, things didn’t work out in Madrid, but there were nuances. I think "Chelsea” can be stormy.”
During the discussion about the match between "Tottenham” and "Newcastle”, which the latter won 2:0, unmeasured expectations for the London club were highlighted. Roberto De Zerbi’s team started the season with two painful losses.
"Did we expect that a team that finished 17th for two consecutive seasons would suddenly sign several players and return to the top six? It seems to me that this transition is much more complicated, especially in England,” Kvitkauskas said.
"La Liga”
Finally, the gaze turned to Spain. During the filming of the show, Madrid "Real” was still the only team to win all of its first three "La Liga” matches. Kvitkauskas noted not only the excellent form of Jude Bellingham but also the changed attitude of the team since Jose Mourinho took charge.
"Jude Bellingham brought great form from the World Cup. But what I would most highlight is the willingness to pass the ball to a teammate, which I haven’t seen in Madrid in recent years,” Ervinas said. "Previously, it seemed everyone wanted to pull the blanket over themselves.”
"I believe that this season in Spain will be a two-horse race,” Kesminas added. "Unless "Atletico” sorts out Julian Alvarez’s situation and can try to catch up.
"Real” going one season without a title is a lot, and now "Barca” has won the league for two consecutive years. And I believe that the Mourinho factor can play a role here. Typically, if we recall his biography, he comes in, sees, and wins, while problems arise later.”
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