Baltikumi tugevaima seltskonna heitluses on Nõmme Kalju vastaseks Läti kõrgliiga liider Liepajas Metalurgs. Sama vastasega kohtuti kuu aega tagasi A le Coq Arenal, kus 1/8 finaalide avamängus tuli tunnistada lõunanaabrite 0-1 paremust.

Vigastustest räsitud Kalju sõitis Lätti ilma mitme olulise mängijata, kuid eesmärgiks on ainult võit. Liepaja meeskond on seevastu tõusnud suurepärasesse vormi, alistades koduliigas tugeva rivaali Riia Skonto 6:1.

 Inglise keelsed kommentaarid Balti Liiga kodulehelt:
Getulio Aurelio: "Last game against Metalurgs we had a high motivation, because we had played good matches in Meistriliiga and we were confident. Then we didn’t miss players like we do now. We have many injuries and this influences our game. We have to play 4 difficult games in a row, including the Baltic League, but we don’t want to be tourists, so we have to find motivation. It is football, everything can happen.”

Kalju’s goalkeeper Janno Hermanson: "It will be a difficult game against Liepaja, because they are in a very good shape. For example, they managed to win against strong Skonto 6:1. Our goal is to go through to the second round. We have to show class and believe in ourselves."

Kristap Grebis from Liepajas Metalurgs: “Now we are really close to winning the Latvian championship, second time in our history. But it doesn’t matter that the game against Nõmme is overshadowed by the battle for the title in Latvia. We have already become winners of the Baltic League, that’s why this tournament is special for us. We want to do it once again and in order to do so you have to prove your will in every round. We managed to do so in the first leg in Tallinn and are hoping to do the same at home.”

 Kohtumine algab 28. oktoobril Daugava staadionil, mis mahutab 5100 pealtvaatajat. Algusajaks on 19.00. Nõmme Kalju meeskonnale on kaasaelama sõitnud ka fännid, kes arvulisest vähemusest hoolimata tahavad omad võidule laulda.