title: 1996–97 A Lyga
text: # 1996–97 A Lyga
  
  The Lithuanian A Lyga 1996–97 was the seventh season of top-tier football in Lithuania. The season started on 13 July 1996 and ended on 22 June 1997. It was contested by 16 teams, and Kareda Šiauliai won the championship.
  
  ## Group A
  
  ### Standings
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | Kareda Šiauliai (C) | 28 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 61 | 12 | +49 | 64 | Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round |
  | 2 | Žalgiris | 28 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 56 | 19 | +37 | 56 | Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup qualifying round |
  | 3 | Inkaras | 28 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 41 | 19 | +22 | 53 | Qualification to UEFA Cup first qualifying round |
  | 4 | FBK Kaunas | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 31 | +2 | 41 | Qualification to Intertoto Cup group stage |
  | 5 | Ekranas | 28 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 28 | 32 | −4 | 34 | |
  | 6 | Panerys | 28 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 40 | −20 | 26 | |
  | 7 | Atlantas | 28 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 21 | 66 | −45 | 18 | |
  | 8 | Žalgiris-Volmeta | 28 | 3 | 7 | 18 | 19 | 60 | −41 | 16 | |
  
  ## Group B
  
  ### Standings
  
  | Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 9 | Lokomotyvas | 26 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 44 | 13 | +31 | 53 | |
  | 10 | Ranga-Politechnika | 26 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 9 | +18 | 50 | |
  | 11 | Mastis | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 43 | |
  | 12 | Banga | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 35 | 22 | +13 | 42 | |
  | 13 | Tauras | 26 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 33 | −9 | 32 | |
  | 14 | Interas-AE | 26 | 7 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 37 | −11 | 25 | |
  | 15 | Ukmergė (R) | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 18 | Relegation to 1 Lyga |
  | 16 | Panerys-2 (R) | 26 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 14 | 61 | −47 | 12 | Relegation to 1 Lyga |
  
  * ↑ Retired during the season and relegated
  * ↑ Relegated
  