Bulgaria-Montenegro is a match from the first day of Group G of the Euro 2024 qualifiers and is played on Friday at 18:00: tv, predictions

It is difficult to pick out a possible front-runner in Group G, the one in which, with the exception of Lithuania – on paper the least competitive selection – all have more or less equal chances of qualifying for the final phase of Euro 2024. The number one favourite is Serbia, albeit after a disappointing World Cup. Hungary follows closely behind.

But there are possible outsiders like Bulgaria and Montenegro, who want to try and have their say, eager to capitalise on the small progress made in recent years. Bulgaria, for example, is fresh from a positive Nations League: in League C they finished behind the unstoppable Georgia, but collected more points than North Macedonia, losing only one game. The new course, inaugurated last summer with the arrival of former Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic, seems to have begun under a good star. In the last four outings, three consecutive victories have come against Gibraltar, North Macedonia and Cyprus, and a blank draw with Luxembourg. Krstajic has the task of developing some undoubtedly talented young players, most of whom come from the team that has dominated Bulgarian football for years now, Ludogorets. The aim is to allow Bulgaria to return to a major international competition: the last time they qualified for a European Championship was in 2004, in the Portuguese edition.

Montenegro, the lighthouse is still Jovetic

Montenegro, unlike the Bulgarians, have never qualified for a continental event. Miodrag Radulovic, who arrived in December 2020, has so far achieved six wins, as many draws and ten defeats.

Radulovic

In the World Cup qualifiers they finished fourth behind the Netherlands, Turkey and Norway, while in the Nations League they avoided relegation to League C thanks to a better goal difference against Romania. The coach’s staples are the usual Jovetic, Savic and Lazio’s Marusic: all three are expected to start in the opener against Bulgaria. There will also be some ‘Italians’ among the men Krstajic will send out: in defence there will be space for Hristov from Venezia and Antov from Monza, but the eyes are mainly on Werder Bremen’s talent Gruev.

The prediction

The draw is a result that has occurred four times in the six previous official matches between these two selections. And it would be no surprise if Bulgaria and Montenegro share the stakes this time as well. The hosts have shown important signs since the new head coach took the helm and should in any case avoid defeat in a match with at least two goals in total.

Bulgaria-Montenegro matchday squad

• BULGARIA (4-4-2): Vutsov; Galabov, Antov, Hristov, Nedyalkov; Kirilov, Krastev, Gruev, Iliev; Despodov, Delev.
• MONTENEGRO (4-4-2): Mijatovic; Vesovic, Vujacic, Savic, Marusic; Jovovic, Scekic, Vukcevic, Haksabanovic; Jovetic, Mugosa.

POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1