Montenegro vs Bulgaria Match Analysis & Prediction
10/09/2023 7:00 pm
Still in the hunt for a spot at Euro 2024, Montenegro play host to Group G rivals Bulgaria in Sunday’s qualifying tie at Podgorica City Stadium.
While the visitors are trailing behind on two points and sit bottom of the five-team group, the Brave Falcons could move into the top two with a victory this weekend.
Beaten only by Serbia in their first four European Championship qualifiers, Montenegro remain contenders for a ticket to Germany next summer, when UEFA’s showpiece international tournament will be staged.
A draw with Hungary and victory over Bulgaria saw Montenegro enter this month’s international window on four points from three matches, and Thursday’s fixture in Lithuania then upped their tally – although only by a point.
Trailing by a goal heading into the final 15 minutes, Montenegro equalised through Lecce striker Nikola Krstovic, and then Stefan Savic struck what seemed to be an 89th-minute winner.
However, conceding again in stoppage time left Miodrag Radulovic’s side cursing their luck, as victory would have put them alongside second-placed Serbia on points.
As a result of that late lapse, Montenegro have now won just once in nine matches – their 1-0 victory over Bulgaria last spring – so Radulovic is acutely aware that only maximum points will do on Sunday.
After missing out on promotion from League C of the UEFA Nations League by some distance – having previously sunk without trace in the Qatar 2022 qualifiers – Bulgaria’s miserable run has continued this year.
In addition to their home defeat to Montenegro in March, Bulgaria have been beaten 3-0 by Group G leaders Hungary, with a pair of 1-1 draws in June providing their only points of the process so far.
The Lions reconvened this week for a friendly with Iran, but they could not find the net in Plovdiv and suffered a frustrating 1-0 home defeat.
Three days on, they will have a chance to keep the flame flickering on their challenge for Euro 2024 qualification, but even beating Montenegro would leave them with a mountain to climb in their final three matches.
Montenegro vs. Bulgaria Head to head
In the seven previous meetings between these two teams, Montenegro have claimed two victories while Bulgaria have won one, and they have drawn in four. Bulgaria have scored eight goals and conceded seven in the process.
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07/09/2010Bulgaria0Montenegro1Euros Qualifiers
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04/06/2011Montenegro1Bulgaria1Euros Qualifiers
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22/03/2019Bulgaria1Montenegro1Euros Qualifiers
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11/10/2019Montenegro0Bulgaria0Euros Qualifiers
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24/03/2023Bulgaria0Montenegro1Euros Qualifiers
Montenegro Team News
After Radulovic paired rising star Nikola Krstovic with well-travelled Stefan Mugosa up front in midweek, the same strike partneship could start for Montenegro on Sunday.
Captain Stefan Jovetic, who recently signed for Olympiakos, would therefore take a place on the bench, but any change in formation could see the 33-year-old promoted to the starting lineup.
Montenegro's Last 5 Matches
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24/03/2023Bulgaria0Montenegro1Euros Qualifiers
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27/03/2023Montenegro0Serbia2Euros Qualifiers
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17/06/2023Montenegro0Hungary0Euros Qualifiers
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20/06/2023Montenegro1Czechia4Friendlies
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07/09/2023Lithuania2Montenegro2Euros Qualifiers
Bulgaria Team News
Bulgaria have switched to a 3-4-3 formation of late, with skipper Kiril Despodov – their leading active goalscorer – featuring in an attacking triumvirate.
Goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was handed his senior debut on Thursday, but either Ivan Dyulgerov or Daniel Naumov could take the gloves on Sunday.
Bulgaria's Last 5 Matches
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24/03/2023Bulgaria0Montenegro1Euros Qualifiers
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27/03/2023Hungary3Bulgaria0Euros Qualifiers
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17/06/2023Lithuania1Bulgaria1Euros Qualifiers
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20/06/2023Bulgaria1Serbia1Euros Qualifiers
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07/09/2023Bulgaria0IR Iran1Friendlies
Montenegro vs. Bulgaria: Odds and Predictions
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