Since the start of the second half of the season, the Meridianbet First Montenegrin League has been operating at a rapid pace, making today another thrilling matchday. We are set to witness the 24th round of matches, with another round scheduled for Sunday, after which the top league teams will take a break due to their national commitments in the World Cup qualifiers.

In contrast to previous seasons, there seems to be a lack of excitement at the top, and it’s unlikely that will change before the season concludes. Buducnost is eagerly anticipating their title, currently enjoying a 10-match unbeaten streak (nine wins and one draw), and today they will host Otrant-Olimpik in the 24th round. Their only setback recently was a loss to Iskra in the Cup, meaning they will celebrate their centenary with a league title but not the double crown that everyone in Podgorica had hoped for.

“We have a challenging task ahead, facing an opponent for whom every point is crucial. I don’t anticipate that this game will be easier than our previous ones; in fact, each match presents its unique challenges. We’re playing at home, in front of our fans. Currently, we have a positive rhythm, good preparation for the match, and we’re fully focused on Otrant, determined to secure a victory,” said Buducnost coach Ivan Brnović.

Otrant has bolstered their squad during the January transfer window, now battling to avoid relegation. In their last outing, they achieved a victory at home against Dečić’s team.

“We’re facing a revitalized Otrant, which features many former Buducnost players, so we expect them to be highly motivated against their old club. They’ve earned six points in their first four matches, showing improvement in their performance. They have strengthened their ranks with several talented individuals – Raičković, Vukčević, Vujačić, Terzić, Malešević – and they truly have a strong team,” noted Brnović.

Buducnost has accumulated eight consecutive wins. The league record for consecutive victories stands at 10, achieved by the “blues” on two occasions: in 2011/2012 and 2020/2021.

“We don’t dwell on records. If we start focusing on them, we might lose our way. We keep working, training, and we’ll see where our efforts take us. It’s unrealistic to expect to win every game, to maintain a streak of 15 to 20 victories; that’s nearly impossible. We will push ourselves to the limit because it’s our duty as players, coaches, and the club to approach every match with determination, ambition, and a clear goal of securing three points,” Brnović stated.

Budućnost’s closest competitor is Petrovac, sitting 12 points behind, which will be facing Jedinstvo-Franco at home today. Petrovac remains unbeaten in the second half of the season, including their Cup matches, with five straight wins, three of which came from behind, showcasing the squad’s character.

The gap between third-placed Bokelj SBBet and eighth-placed Jedinstvo-France is significant, with only nine points separating them. However, Kotorani and Dečić AdmiralBet have a game in hand compared to the rest of the competition. In this context, Sutjeska has surged forward after securing two wins, now only four points behind Bokelj, whom they recently defeated.

The new round kicks off with the team from Nikšić hosting Mornar at 14:00. Sutjeska has struggled against Barani this season, with one match ending in a draw (1-1) and the other resulting in a 2-1 defeat.

“It’s always rewarding when we play well and secure a win. We aim to perform our best in this final home match before the international break,” said Sutjeska player Igor Pajović.

Pajović scored in the previous round against Bokelj.

“That goal was crucial for boosting the team’s confidence. The most significant aspect is that we achieved an important win in Kotor. Regarding Mornar, we’ve faced them in pre-season, so we’re aware of their potential, and we know what to expect,” Pajović added.

Dečić’s squad has managed only one win in the second half of the season and will be looking to rectify that against the bottom team, Jezera.

Arsenal will take on Bokelj in a local derby.

Doubles – 24th round

SUTJESKA – MORNAR (14:00)

Referee: Dalibor Vujisić (Podgorica)

ARSENAL – BOKELJ SBBET (14:00)

Referee: Miloš Bešović (Podgorica)

PETROVAC – JEDINSTVO-FRANCO (15:00)

Referee: Nikola Vođević (Nikšić)

ADMIRALBET DEčiĆ – JEZERA (15:00)

Referee: Miloš Bošković (Podgorica)

BUDUĆNOST – OTRANT-OLIMPIK (18:00)

Referee: Branko Odalović (Nikšić)

News