Vilniaus Rytas – Kauno Žalgiris (3.40 odds – 1.3 odds, betsafe)
One of the biggest clubs in Europe, Real Madrid, was defeated by Žalgiris on Thursday, and now they will face Vilniaus Rytas in the national championship. Both teams are undefeated in the Lithuanian Basketball League this season, so one of these teams will record their first loss in this match.
Both Žalgiris and Rytas will enter this match in high spirits. Last Sunday, Žalgiris defeated Klaipėdos Neptūnas away with a score of 80-73, and on Thursday, they beat Real in the EuroLeague, riding a great wave of momentum. Rytas had a fun game last Saturday against Alytaus Dzūkija, which they won by a margin of 38 points, but their Eurocup match against Partizan did not go well, losing at home 61-66.
Both teams have not only won all their matches in the national championship so far but have done so with impressive margins: Žalgiris has celebrated victories with an average margin of 25 points, while Rytas has an average margin of 17.8 points. It will be very interesting to watch these teams face off again, as the match in Vilnius should be quite competitive.
Lithuanian Basketball Players
Since matches between Kauno Žalgiris and Vilniaus Rytas are always the most anticipated encounters in the Lithuanian Basketball League, and the history between these teams is very long, Lithuanian players often have the most significant impact on such matches. As R. Šiškauskas mentioned in an interview with krepsinis.net: “Lithuanians understand the importance and tension of this derby more, as many of them grew up watching the battles between these teams, while foreign players are usually just helpers in such matches.” Interestingly, both teams have many Lithuanians in their rosters who are not just benchwarmers but play important roles, especially in the national championship.
Team Leaders
Vilniaus Rytas is led in the Lithuanian Basketball League by:
Eimantas Bendžius – 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds. Bendžius is having one of the best starts to a season in his career and so far looks great both locally and in Europe. For Rytas to seriously challenge Žalgiris, it will be very important for Bendžius to make his shots, although matches against Žalgiris often do not go well for this player.
Francisco Cruz – 12.4 points on average in the Lithuanian Basketball League. The Mexican, along with Bendžius, are the players who, when they find their shot, can cause a lot of problems. Cruz is unpredictable; in one play, he can execute a full set, and in the next, he can shoot a three-pointer just after running up. On one hand, this is not good, but the element of surprise can work against Žalgiris.
Evaldas Kairys – 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds on average per game. This center does not disappoint on the court. Although Rytas fans were unhappy with his contract extension before the season, Kairys looks good, and a large part of Rytas' success will depend on his ability to withstand Žalgiris' big men.
Žalgiris' leaders in the national championship:
Zach Leday – 14.4 points and 2.8 rebounds in just 17 minutes. The American is already showing that he is ready to become one of the team's leaders. After a phenomenal performance against Real Madrid, where he scored 35 efficiency points, he is in great shape and will undoubtedly be an important factor in the match against Vilniaus Rytas.
Jock Landale – 8.6 points and 5.2 rebounds, this Žalgiris Australian averages in just 15 minutes in the national championship. Although Landale has not yet broken through in the EuroLeague, he looks quite good in the Lithuanian Basketball League.
Edgaras Ulanovas – 8.2 points and 3 rebounds on average. One of Žalgiris' leaders often plays a key role in victories against Rytas. Although he has averaged only 18 minutes on the court until this match, it is likely that if the game struggles, Ulanovas will play longer today, and his good performance will be important for achieving the 6th victory.
Previous Encounters
Žalgiris has won the last 5 meetings, and the last time they lost to Rytas away was on June 11, 2018. The last victory for Žalgiris was in last year's final match, where they crushed Vilnius with a score of 92-54.
Prediction
It must be admitted that although the match will take place in Vilnius, Kauno Žalgiris is still considered the favorite. The team is strong, gradually building chemistry, players are starting to understand the system, and results are coming. Vilniaus Rytas played a great first Eurocup match against Lokomotiv, which they managed to win, although the Russian team was considered the favorite before the match. However, Rytas' game in Europe did not go well afterward, and victories in the Lithuanian league do not have much significance, as Žalgiris is several heads above other teams.
Considering how well Žalgiris can move the ball and find good shots, it is hard to imagine how Vilnius could prevent them from scoring more than 80 points. Rytas players also have more options in offense than in defense, so today we should see a higher-scoring game than usual between these teams. Still, Žalgiris looks more reliable today, and we choose their points over.
Žalgiris will score more than 80.5 points, 1.85 odds, betsafe.
