Serbia clash with UEFA Nations League C Group 4 rivals Montenegro on Thursday night. The two sides with play in Podgorica, Montenegro at the City Stadium. The two nations go into the fixture having taken four points from a possible six.
Serbia downed Lithuania in their first group match, 1-0. They followed up their performance with a 2-2 draw at home to Romania. Montenegro, on the other hand, drew nil-nil with Romania away before defeating Lithuania 2-0 at home. A win will put one of the two nations in the driver’s seat in Group 4.
Montenegro have a sterling goals record going into matchday three. Ljubiša Tumbaković’s team has not conceded a goal in the UEFA Nations League and have looked strong in defence. They will be going up against a very talented Serbia side, however.
Mladen Krstajić’s team are coming off of a summer at the World Cup. Although Serbia were knocked out at the group stage, the team had a good showing and could have advanced to the round of 16 up to their final match.
At one time, Montenegro and Serbia were one team. They split in 2006, but football fans will remember they played as a combined Serbia and Montenegro team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Montenegro are yet to qualify for a World Cup on their own while Serbia has made it to the tournament finals.
Tumbaković’s Montenegro go into the fixture having won one fixture in their last six attempts. The good news is the side have only lost one of those games. That loss came against Slovenia prior to the World Cup. Goals have been nonexistent for Montenegro. The team has scored just four times in six games in 2018. Those goals came against Turkey and Lithuania in the UEFA Nations League. In four matches Montenegro were held without a goal.
Serbia have had a slightly better 2018. They have played nine games and won four, lost four, and drawn one. The team has solid professional players such as Fulham’s Aleksander Mitrovic. The striker is scoring for fun in the Premier League and will be the best forward Montenegro have faced in the Nations League. Mitrovic scored both Serbia goals in their draw with Romania. He will be difficult to mark, but Montenegro do have a capable centre-back in Atletico Madrid man Stefan Savic.
Despite Montenegro’s good play in the UEFA Nations League, Serbia will offer a much tougher test. The Serbians have a proven goal scorer who is in fine form. They also have experience in the World Cup behind them. Serbia will eke out a win against Montenegro on Thursday and top Group 4 heading into matchday four.