As the second segment of the season unfolds, the Meridianbet First Montenegrin League is moving at a brisk pace, with today marking another exciting round. This time, we have the matches of the 24th round, followed by another round on Sunday, after which the first league teams will take a breather due to national team obligations in the World Cup qualifiers.

Unlike some earlier seasons, there’s a lack of tension at the top, and no surprises are anticipated until the season concludes. Buducnost is eagerly awaiting the title, having gone unbeaten in 10 matches (with nine victories and one draw). Today, in the 24th round, they will face Otrant-Olimpik at home. Their only setback recently was in the Cup, where they were ousted by Iskra, meaning they will celebrate their centenary solely with the league title, missing out on the double crown that Podgorica supporters desired.

“We have a tough task ahead, facing an opponent for whom every point is crucial. I don’t expect this match to be easier than the previous ones. Each game presents its own challenges. We are at home, in front of our fans. We have a good biorhythm, well-prepared for the match, fully focused on Otranto, and determined to seek victory,” noted Buducnost coach Ivan Brnović.

Otrant has bolstered its team during the January transfer window and is fighting to avoid relegation. In the last round, they claimed victory against Dečić’s team as hosts in Podgorica.

“We are facing a new Otrant, which includes numerous former Buducnost players, so we anticipate they will be highly motivated against their old club. They’ve earned six points from their first four matches, indicating an improvement in their performance. With several strong players like Raičković, Vukčević, Vujačić, Terzić, and Malešević, they indeed have a solid squad,” Brnović explained.

Buducnost has achieved eight consecutive wins, with the league record being 10 straight victories, previously set by the “blues” in both the 2011/2012 and 2020/2021 seasons.

“We don’t focus on records. If we start doing that, we could end up in trouble. Our priority is to work and train hard and see where that leads us. Winning every match to the end, achieving a streak of 15 to 20 victories—now that’s nearly impossible. We will push ourselves to the limit, as it’s our obligation as players, coaching staff, and the club to approach every game with determination, desire, and ambition to secure three points,” stated Brnović.

Budućnost’s closest competitor is Petrovac, trailing by 12 points, who will be hosting Jedinstvo-Franco today. Petrovac remains undefeated in the second half of the season, including Cup matches, boasting five straight wins—three of which were comebacks, showcasing the team’s resilience.

The gap between third-place Bokelj SBBet and eighth-place Jedinstvo-France is significant, with only nine points separating them, and Kotorani and Dečić AdmiralBet still have a game in hand. In this context, Sutjeska has improved, winning two matches in a row and now sits just four points behind Bokelj after triumphing over them last round.

The new round will kick off with the team from Nikšić hosting Mornar at 14:00. Sutjeska has struggled against Barani this season, managing one draw (1-1) and a loss (2-1) in their previous encounters.

“It feels great to play well and win. We aim to finish our last home game before the international break on a high note,” remarked Sutjeska player Igor Pajović.

Pajović netted a goal against Bokelj in the last match.

“That goal was crucial for our team’s confidence. The most important thing is that we achieved a significant victory in Kotor. Regarding Mornar, we have faced them in preparations, so we know their capabilities—there are no surprises,” added Pajović.

Dečić’s side managed only one win since the season restarted, losing their last game against Otranto, and they will aim to rectify this against the bottom-placed Jezera.

Arsenal will face Bokelj in a local derby.

Fixtures – 24th Round

SUTJESKA – MORNAR (14:00)

Referee: Dalibor Vujisić (Podgorica)

ARSENAL – BOKELJ SBBET (14:00)

Referee: Miloš Bešović (Podgorica)

PETROVAC – JEDINSTVO-FRANCE (15:00)

Referee: Nikola Vođević (Nikšić)

ADMIRALBET DEČIĆ – JEZERA (15:00)

Referee: Miloš Bošković (Podgorica)

BUDUĆNOST – OTRANT-OLYMPIK (18:00)

Referee: Branko Odalović (Nikšić)

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