Liam Duckstein
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Azerbaijan host Lithuania in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday 4 October 2026, and these predicted lineups lean heavily on how settled – or unsettled – each side has looked across their last few matches. Azerbaijan arrive with a team that has barely changed from game to game, while Lithuania’s selections have shifted far more often. Both projections below are built purely from recent starting patterns, not any official team sheet.
Azerbaijan Predicted Lineup
Azerbaijan’s expected XI is set up in a 3-4-2-1, which lines up with Aykhan Abbasov’s preferred shape. This is a settled side – 10 of the projected XI started their last match, underlining how little rotation has gone on across the three matches used for this projection. Emil Balayev has started all three games tracked and did so again most recently, while Tellur Mutallimov has an identical record at the back, making both about as close to certainties as this projection offers. Further forward there is more variation in minutes, but the spine of the team looks settled heading into this one.
Azerbaijan predicted XI: Emil Balayev; Tellur Mutallimov, Tural Bayramov, Elvin Badalov; Abdulakh khaybulaev, Mahir Emreli, Emin Makhmudov, Aleksey Isaev, Vüsal İsgändärli, Rahim Sadikhov; Musa Qurbanly
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 1 | Emil Balayev | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 19 | Tellur Mutallimov | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| D | 7 | Tural Bayramov | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 14 | Elvin Badalov | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 6 | Abdulakh khaybulaev | 3/3 | 3/3 |
| M | 10 | Mahir Emreli | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Emin Makhmudov | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 20 | Aleksey Isaev | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 17 | Vüsal İsgändärli | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 21 | Rahim Sadikhov | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 9 | Musa Qurbanly | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Predicted Lithuania Line-up
Lithuania are also projected in a 3-4-2-1, matching Edgaras Jankauskas’s own preferred setup, though the pattern behind the names is very different from their hosts. This is a rotating side – only 5 of the projected XI started their last match, so this team news comes with a reminder that changes between games have been frequent. Kipras Kazukolovas has started two of the three matches used here and was involved in the most recent one, while Domantas Šluta has only one start across the same sample yet still edges into this projected line-up. That contrast sums up a squad where opportunities have been spread fairly widely.
Lithuania predicted XI: Džiugas Bartkus; Kipras Kazukolovas, Artemijus Tutyskinas, Edgaras Utkus; Modestas Vorobjovas, Justas Lasickas, Gvidas Gineitis, Lukas Michelbrink, Domantas Šluta, Motiejus Burba; Eligijus Jankauskas
| Line | # | Player | Starts in last 3 | Last 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 23 | Džiugas Bartkus | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 5 | Kipras Kazukolovas | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 2 | Artemijus Tutyskinas | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| D | 3 | Edgaras Utkus | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 6 | Modestas Vorobjovas | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 13 | Justas Lasickas | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 15 | Gvidas Gineitis | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 16 | Lukas Michelbrink | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| M | 8 | Domantas Šluta | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| M | 22 | Motiejus Burba | 1/3 | 1/3 |
| F | 11 | Eligijus Jankauskas | 2/3 | 2/3 |
Team News: Who Is Out
Lithuania’s situation is the same: no absentees are recorded in the data, leaving the squad technically available in full for selection. Among the substitutes, A. Kučys has the strongest recent run with two starts and would be the natural candidate if a change is made to the expected XI.
How These Line-ups Were Picked
Each predicted lineup here is built from the last three matches for that team, with more recent appearances weighted more heavily than older ones. Players confirmed as injured or suspended are removed from contention before the projection is drawn up. This is not an official team announcement – it is a data-led estimate that can and will change once the actual starting eleven is confirmed on matchday.
Read also: Azerbaijan vs Lithuania Head-to-Head: Record, Stats & Form as of 3 Oct 2026
Read also: Azerbaijan vs Lithuania Prediction: 04.10.2026 UEFA Nations League
FAQ
Who is predicted to start in goal for Azerbaijan and Lithuania?
Emil Balayev is projected in goal for Azerbaijan, having started all three of the matches used in this sample, while Džiugas Bartkus is the projected Lithuania goalkeeper despite missing the most recent game.
What formation are Azerbaijan and Lithuania expected to use?
Both sides are projected in a 3-4-2-1, which matches the preferred formation of each head coach, Aykhan Abbasov and Edgaras Jankauskas respectively.
Are any players unavailable for Azerbaijan vs Lithuania?
No absentees are recorded in the data for either Azerbaijan or Lithuania ahead of this fixture.
When do Azerbaijan and Lithuania kick off?
The match kicks off on Sunday 4 October 2026 in the UEFA Nations League.