Belgian Lambrechts to Officiate Dinamo's Clash Against Sopić's Kaunas
The return leg in Lithuania takes place a week later, while Thun suffered another heavy blow in the league after being eliminated by the Blues.
The return leg in Lithuania takes place a week later, while Thun suffered another heavy blow in the league after being eliminated by the Blues.
UEFA has appointed the referee for the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, where Dinamo hosts Kauno Žalgiris at Maksimir. The 39-year-old Belgian Erik Lambrechts will take charge of the match, as reported by Sportklub.
He will be assisted by his compatriots Jo De Weirdt and Kevin Monteny on the sidelines, with Lothar D'Hondt serving as the fourth official. The VAR technology will be overseen by Dutchman Clay Ruperti, assisted by Belgian Bert Put. The role of referee observer has been assigned to Poland's Tomasz Mikulski.
The match is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 PM. The Lithuanian champions will be guided from the bench by Croatian coach Željko Sopić. The Zagreb side secured their place in this round after a tense tie against Swiss side Thun in the second qualifying round, while Kauno Žalgiris eliminated KÍ Klaksvík from the Faroe Islands on their path to face Dinamo. The return leg is set for seven days later on Lithuanian soil.
Thun, after squandering a two-goal lead in the final twenty minutes of the return leg in Zagreb, has now recorded another painful loss, this time in the domestic league. Current champions Young Boys from Bern thrashed them 6-0, as reported by Telegram.hr.
The home net was shaken three times within the first half-hour. Joël Monteiro put the visitors ahead in the 10th minute, Lewin Blum doubled the lead in the 24th, and Edimilson Fernandes made it even more complicated for Thun in the 33rd minute. In the second half, Samuel Essende scored twice (55th and 90th minutes), and Kastriot Imeri also got on the scoresheet in the 68th minute.
Thun now faces a Europa League qualifying tie against Iceland's Víkingur.
