Montenegrin footballers once shone as champions in the Champions League final. A decade ago, stars like Stefan Savić, Mirko Vučinić, and Stevan Jovetić showcased remarkable talents, and now, for the first time in ages, our nation may feature three players among the elite this season.

While such occurrences have been rare in recent times, it seems that Nikola Krstović is set to participate in UEFA’s top-level competitions following his transfer to Atalanta, Marko Janković is on the verge of qualifying, and Vasilije Adžić is aiming for an opportunity with Juventus.

Of the trio, only the youngest, Adžić, has tasted Champions League action—making an appearance for Juventus against Stuttgart last season, stepping onto the field in the 68th minute.

This summer, discussions around a potential loan for the young Montenegrin emerged, but “Gazeta delo sport” recently reported that Igor Tudor holds him in high regard and wishes to keep him on the squad.

Janković truly deserves the chance to compete under the bright lights of the Champions League—at 30 years old, he has become a vital player for Montenegro, helping Qarabag unlock the doors to the elite.

With a spectacular goal from around twenty meters out in Budapest, he inspired Qarabag’s remarkable comeback and resounding victory against Ferencvaros (3:1). Unless they become complacent in the second leg, the Champions League could return to Azerbaijan for just the second time in history.

While Qarabag reminisces about their matches with Atletico Madrid, Roma, and Chelsea from the 2017/18 season, the Montenegrin midfielder hopes to fulfill a dream he narrowly missed three years ago, when Viktoria Plzen halted their progress in the playoffs. He also had an opportunity with Partizan in 2017/18, where they faced Olympiacos after bypassing Buducnost, but fell short.

Now, it’s up to Janković and Qarabag to secure their position in the Champions League and aim for eight prestigious matches, while Krstović will get the thrill of scoring goals after competing in Serie A against Europe’s very best.

Having faced challenges with Lecce and Dunajska Streda, and finding limited opportunities at Red Star, the 25-year-old Montenegrin striker is set to experience the Champions League anthem and contest against the elite clubs in Europe.

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