On Tuesday, Kauno Zalgiris footballers face one of their most important matches of the season so far. The Lithuanian champions will take on Kosovo champions Drita in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round, aiming to secure a place in the next stage.

The first match at Darius and Girenas Stadium in Kaunas ended in a 1-1 draw, meaning the tie effectively starts from scratch.

On the eve of the match, FK Kauno Zalgiris held its final training session at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina. Before training, head coach Zeljko Sopic spoke to the media at a press conference.

“Both teams have equal chances of winning and progressing. It is very important for us to stay focused. The draw in Kaunas is neither a good nor a bad result, because the away goals rule no longer exists. We have 90 minutes ahead of us, after which the better team will advance. Our recent 3–0 victory also gives us additional confidence,” the Croatian coach said.

Reflecting on the first leg in Kaunas, Sopic pointed to the demanding schedule and limited preparation time but emphasized that he is pleased with how the team has responded.

“I've only been here for two weeks, and we've been playing every few days. There have been good things and bad things, but that's always the case when there's a change of coach. The players need to adapt to a new system and new rules, but I'm very positive. Every day we will become a better team,” Sopic said confidently.

According to the Kauno Zalgiris manager, the second leg could be a very different match. He expects Drita to approach the game with a different mentality.

“I'm from the Balkans, and I know the mentality here. They'll come onto the pitch with brave hearts and start aggressively from the very first minute. Maybe they'll press us more than they did in Kaunas, but we're prepared for that,” the coach said.

The full press conference with Zeljko Sopic is available on the FK Kauno Zalgiris YouTube channel.

The match between Kauno Zalgiris and Drita in Kosovo will kick off at 9:00 p.m. Lithuanian time.