Buducnost rectified their earlier loss in the Montenegrin Cup by claiming a 2:0 home victory over Sutjeska at the outset of the MeridianBet First Montenegrin Football League, preserving their unbeaten record against this major rival and holding a solid 12-point lead over Petrovac.

In their last 16 encounters, including the Cup, Budućnost has emerged victorious nine times against Sutjeska, while seven matches have ended in draws. The last time the team from Nikšić won was in September 2021, when they secured a 1-0 triumph at Bistrica.

In Sutjeska’s starting line-up, four players who joined during the winter transfer window – Tošković, Kopitović, Desančić, and Barket – were included. The first significant opportunity went to Nikola Janjić, who was a constant threat, but in the 12th minute, he failed to convert, leading to a penalty awarded just two minutes later – Gašević delivered a cross from the left, and Ivanović rose to head the ball into the net.

Following that, Sutjeska posed another threat through Janjić, while Dakić nearly scored an own goal after a breakthrough from Kalezić, allowing Buducnost to go into halftime with a one-goal lead.

In the second half, the Podgorica “blues” ramped up their pressure, created more chances, and netted their second goal in the 66th minute – Milicković combined with Ivanović, entered the box, received a pass from the initial goal scorer, and found the back of the net.

With Grbić hitting the post shortly after, Giljen then thwarted Milicković and Bulatović, denying Bulatović a potential stunning goal.

Buducnost remains firmly 12 points ahead of Petrovac, who managed a comeback victory against Otrant-Olimpik, winning 2:1 at home. After securing a Cup win against Rudar (2:1), Petrovac also kicked off the championship with a comeback victory, having initially fallen behind to Otrant through Vukčević’s goal in the 38th minute.

Ulcinj had opportunities through Mrvaljević, while Petrovac threatened with attempts from Kastanjeda and Boljević.

It was Boljević who equalized in the 59th minute, capitalizing on a cross from Šimun following a corner kick, aided by Otranto goalkeeper Ljuljanović’s misjudgment of the ball’s trajectory.

After the equalizer, Boljević had another chance, then Šimun attempted a free kick, and ten minutes before the final whistle, Bašić found himself unmarked in the box, scoring off Kastanjeda’s cross to seal the game.

Meanwhile, Dečić AdmiralBet and Arsenal played to a goalless draw (0:0) in Tuzi. The reigning champions had momentum, but both sides only created one real opportunity – Kajević was thwarted by Zogović at the start of the second half, while Kovinić wasted a chance for Tivat with a misplaced shot.

Arsenal finished the match with ten men as Ćetko Manojlović was sent off in the 90th minute.

Bokelj SBBet scored a narrow 1:0 victory over Jedinstvo-Franca in Bijelo Polje, marking a strong start to the second half of the season. The solitary goal for Kotor was netted by Stefan Silađi in the 88th minute.

Despite this defeat, Jedinstvo remains in contention for a playoff spot.

Bokelj threatened early in Bijelo Polje with a shot from Perović, which was cleared off the line by Nikolić, and Bumbar later squandered a chance following a corner.

Jedinstvo’s initial attempt came from Juković in the first half, who missed the target after a solo run, with the home team’s first on-target shot coming from Brandao at the end of the half.

The pace slowed in the second half, with Perović striking the post, and then in the 88th minute, he assisted Silađija, who scored the decisive goal.

Mornar also clinched a win, overcoming Jezera 2:1 in Berane.

The visitors took the lead early in the second half with a fine goal from Kiši, but Mornar equalized post-intermission due to defensive errors from the visitors, with Ilić scoring.

Mornar’s victory was secured when Jovićević inadvertently scored an own goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, following a foul on the guests and a subsequent break from Đurišić.

Jezero had two notable chances – Kontić hit the crossbar in the first half, while Ćuković missed the target in the final moments of the match.

RESULTS – ROUND 20

Jezero – Mornar 1:2

Mihailo Ilić 60 – Kotaro Kiši 49, Nikola Jovićević own goal 90+4

Jedinstvo-Franca – Bokelj SBBet 0:1

Vladimir Silađi 88.

Dečić AdmiralBet – Arsenal 0:0

Ćetko Manojlović (Arsenal) received a red card in the 90th minute.

Petrovac – Otrant-Olimpik 2:1

Dejan Boljević 59, Adnan Bašić 80 – Petar Vukčević 38.

Buducnost – Sutjeska 2:0

Igor Ivanović 14, Marko Milicković 66.

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