The battle for the championship in the Meridianbet First Montenegrin Football League appears to have been decided some time ago, despite there being 15 rounds remaining. Budućnost stands unchallenged at the top, with Petrovac trailing behind by 12 points. Following definitive victories at the beginning of the second half against Sutjeska (2:0) and Arsenal (5:1), the Podgorica club is now on the brink of a record seventh title.

BOKELJ ON THE HUNT – CAN THEY UPSET THE LEADER?

The initial triumphs of the domestic league this season are complemented by noteworthy performances from striker Marko Milicković, who joined Gorica in January. After a successful stint with Žalgiris and Uzbek club Metalrug, the forward returned to Montenegro and immediately made an impact, scoring against both Sutjeska and Arsenal. He aims to extend his scoring streak this evening at 18:00 when Budućnost faces Bokelj SBBet in a derby match in Podgorica.

Kotor’s team, currently sitting third in the league, was the first to defeat Budućnost this fall (2:1 in Kotor) and is vying for a spot on the European stage.

– Bokelj is a formidable squad, having been together for quite some time and strengthened during the transfer window with skilled players. Their standing in the league reflects a strong season. We respect them greatly; we know it will be a challenge, so we must approach the match fully prepared and motivated. We’ll strive to deliver another solid performance, Milicković emphasized in an interview with the club’s website.

Budućnost and Bokelj have clashed 20 times since independence, with the “blues” securing 11 wins, Bokelj claiming four, and five matches ending in draws.

– With Budućnost, the goal is always victory. We need to exhibit the same determination and motivation as in our previous two matches; if we can do that, then we’re on the right path, Milicković stated.

Budućnost leads Petrovac by 12 points, who will be playing host to Jezero. Petrovac kick-started the second half with two wins, overturning Otrant-Olimpik and convincingly defeating Sutjeska in Nikšić. A further victory would be a significant stride towards securing a position in Europe for Zdravko Dragićević’s side.

SUTJESKA MUST DELIVER, BARANS SEEKING SCALPS

The 22nd round of the Meridianbet 1st CFL kicks off with a match in Nikšić, where Sutjeska is looking to recover against Arsenal after two consecutive defeats to start the spring season.

Nikšić revamped their squad during the break, acquiring six new players, yet after 180 minutes they have yet to find the net, conceding five goals; they faced defeats to the leading Budućnost and then to Petrovac, prompting fans to call for the resignation of coach Milija Savović. Ahead of the match against the Tivćenje team from Sutjeska, there were no customary pre-match comments – possibly as Savović’s players aimed to focus solely on the field, avoiding distractions including media engagements.

Sutjeska currently sits two points behind their opponents and two points ahead of Jedinstvo-France, which is in the playoff zone. In this round, Bijelo Polje will host Otrant-Olimpik in a bottom-of-the-table showdown.

The round also features a matchup between teams that made a significant impression in Europe last summer, as reigning champion Dečić AdmiralBet hosts Mornar.

– We expect a tough and competitive match. Dečić’s team is physically strong and possesses several skilled individuals. We started the championship well, and we are aiming for victory to maintain our positive momentum this Sunday, stated Baran midfielder Balša Dubljević.

Matches for the 22nd round

SUTJESKA – ARSENAL (13:00)

Referee: Nikola Dabanović (Podgorica)

PETROVAC – JEZERO (14:00)

Referee: Miloš Bešović (Podgorica)

JEDINSTVO – OTRANT (14:00)

Referee: Miloš Bošković (Podgorica)

DEČIĆ – MORNAR (15:00)

Referee: Branko Odalović (Nikšić)

BUDUĆNOST – BOKELJ (18:00)

Referee: Mladen Knežević (Berane)

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