Welcome to Pitchside - a new podcast segment with Baltic Football News' journalist Harry Brown and former FK Auda and Valmiera FC goalkeeping coach Tony McMullen! For a closer look at Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian football, join Tony and Harry Pitchside!

This week is Lithuania-heavy because the Toplyga is the first of the three Baltic leagues to kick off. The headline is Kauno Žalgiris lifting the Lithuanian Super Cup - and then the wider question of whether this club is built to stay at the top and if their stadium, squad depth and support to make success sustainable? And then there’s also the post-match controversy: flares inside the arena, heavy smoke, and an evacuation, and a proper discussion about the balance between atmosphere, culture and basic safety.

Plus, Pitchside’s new weekly picks:

• Result of the Round: Džiugas Telšiai shocking Žalgiris Vilnius 3–2 away, capped by a late stoppage-time winner.

• Player of the Round: Denis Bunchakov - goal, duels, recoveries, and a very specific “old-school Lampard” comparison.

And a quick Round 1 wrap: Panevėžys 0-0 Sūduva, Hegelmann’s new era starting with defeat, TransINVEST letting a two-goal advantage slip, and Kaunas needing late goals to get past 10-man Riteriai.

(00:00:02) Super Cup + Toplyga kickoff

(00:08:30) Early favourites

(00:11:10) Livonia Cup (Flora vs Riga FC)

(00:13:09) Reading preseason form

(00:26:44) Closing

For up-to-date football news from Toplyga, Virsliga and Premium liiga, visit www.balticfootballnews.com and follow us on social media!

#latvia #lithuania #estonia #zalgiris #vilnius #riga #tallinn #toplyga #virsliga #premiumliiga