The Montenegrin Football Cup final, a much-anticipated event known as the most beautiful match, will take place tonight at 20:30 for the first time at the stadium near Bistrica in Nikšić. Since its inception, all finals have been held in Podgorica.

The competing teams are Mornar from Bar and Dečić from Tuzi. They face off not just to claim the inaugural cup of independent Montenegro, but also for a chance to advance to European competitions, marking a perfect season for both clubs.

The final was traditionally presented at the House of Football by the teams’ coaches and captains. Nenad Brnović and defender Leon Ujkaj represented Tuzi, while from the Baran side, coach Zoran Đurašković and captain Andrija Kaluđerović displayed the same enthusiasm towards capturing the cup.

– Victory is our sole focus in this beautiful game, and Europe is at stake! We have shown improvement in our last three matches and are aiming for the first trophy in our club’s history. We recognize their success in the league; we only managed a draw once against them, but our intense commitment and focus on each play will be key to winning – stated Kaluđerović.

Dečić is looking to bounce back after losing two cup finals to Budućnost in 2021 and 2023, prior to their significant achievement of winning the Montenegrin championship last season.

– Third time’s the charm, we are hopeful to finally claim the Cup and secure our place in Europe. It’s high time. We respect our experienced opponents, yet we are confident in our capabilities. With a bit of luck and attention to detail, success is within reach – remarked the popular Ujkaj.

Both teams’ coaches possess extensive experience in finals that extend beyond Montenegro. Đurašković won the Serbia and Montenegro Cup final with Železnik against Red Star in 2005, while Brnović has a history of triumphs as a player for Partizan in 2008 and Lovćen in 2014, as well as coaching Sutjeska to victory two seasons ago.

– It’s an honor and a privilege to be part of the final of Montenegrin club football’s most magnificent match again. This year marks our jubilee of 100 years, and we aim to close the season with a European ticket. They’re experienced and well-organized, but our motivation is sky-high. I draw from my experience with Sutjeska, considering every aspect. We are also preparing penalty takers to ensure we leave nothing to chance. My assessment will rest on the post-match results. Throughout the championship, we prioritized this match, managing team rotation and recovery efficiently. Our focus now is to rely on key national players, particularly goalkeeper Nikić and Djeljaja – explained Brnović.

Meanwhile, Mornar is taking a different strategy towards the final.

– We are not practicing penalties; I prefer not to add extra pressure on players. Their personal expectations and the support from family and fans are already significant. Despite finishing fifth in the championship—our second-best placement ever—we’re excited to be in the Cup final, making this season successful. Our recent form is promising, and rather than focusing solely on wins and goals, the quality of our gameplay is vital, especially given the challenges we’ve faced this season, including injuries and early preparations for European matches – noted Đurašković, who will miss the final due to injuries to Balša Dubljević and Andrija Kolundžić.

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