Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Euro Champ Qualifying clash between Montenegro and Lithuania, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Montenegro play host to Lithuania at Podgorica City Stadium for their penultimate Euro 2024 qualifier in Group G on Thursday night.
The two nations meet for the first time since playing out a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture held in Kaunus in September.
Match preview
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Montenegro were dealt a major blow in their quest to qualify for Euro 2024 when they suffered a 3-1 defeat away against Serbia in their most recent qualifier last month.
The contest was level a 1-1 heading into the final 15 minutes after Stefan Jovetic had cancelled out an early opener from Aleksandar Mitrovic in the first half, but Montenegro were unable to hold on for a point as Mitrovic netted a second shortly before Dusan Tadic sealed the victory for Serbia.
Miodrag Radulovic‘s men sit third in Group G after winning two, drawing two and losing two of their six fixtures, and they sit five points adrift of second-placed Serbia knowing that both they and leaders Hungary can secure Euro 2024 qualification with a victory in their next match regardless of the result versus Lithuania.
Montenegro enter Thursday’s clash having won their last two games on home soil against Bulgaria and Lebanon; the last time they won three home matches in a row was between August 2010 and March 2011 when they won five successive fixtures in front of their own fans.
The Brave Falcons also boast an unbeaten record across their three previous encounters with Lithuania, although they will somewhat be seeking revenge against the Rinktine after they dropped two points in the aforementioned draw between the two nations two months ago, courtesy of a 94th-minute equaliser from Fedor Cernych.
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Lithuania enter Thursday’s match in buoyant mood after they ended a 15-game winless run by beating Bulgaria 2-0 away from home last month, before picking up a point in a 2-2 draw with Hungary.
Pijus Sirvys was the standout performer for the Rinktine across the two fixtures as he netted twice against Bulgaria before scoring again versus Hungary, although two second-half strikes from Dominik Szoboszlai and Barnabas Varga ensured the latter rescued a point in Kaunas.
After picking up just one point from eight qualifiers for Euro 2020, Edgaras Jankauskas‘s side have since made major improvements this time around, as they have accumulated six points from seven matches win one win and three draws, although their hopes of reaching their first-ever major tournament are over heading into their final two Group G games.
Lithuania will merely be playing for pride at Podgorica City Stadium, but a victory over Montenegro would see them record back-to-back away wins for the first time since September/October 2020.
Montenegro Euro Champ Qualifying form:
Montenegro form (all competitions):
Lithuania Euro Champ Qualifying form:
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Team News
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Montenegro forward Stefan Mugosa, who has featured in each of his nation’s last five matches, has been forced to withdraw from this month’s squad due to injury.
However, Igor Vujacic is available to return after serving a one-match suspension in the draw with Hungary, and the Rubin Kazan defender could take the place of Marko Tuci to start alongside Stefan Savic and Zarko Tomasevic in the back three.
Experienced Olympiakos forward Jovetic, Montenegro’s all-time leading scorer with 33 goals, could be joined in attack by Nikola Krstovic, while Marko Jankovic, Driton Camaj and Edvin Kuc will all be hoping to retain their places in centre-midfield.
As for Lithuania, Jankauskas has made just one change to his squad for this month’s international period, with winger Artur Dolznikov replacing midfielder Paulius Golubickas.
A 3-4-3 formation is set to be deployed once again by Jankauskas, with Edgaras Utkus, Linas Klimavicius and Rokas Lekiatas the most likely trio to lineup in the back three as Justas Lasickas and Sirvys operate as wing-backs.
Arvydas Novikovas will be hoping to force his way into the first XI and earn his 92nd international cap in the front three alongside Cernych and Gytis Paulauskas.
Montenegro possible starting lineup:
Mijatovic; Vujacic, Savic, Tomasevic; Marusic, Kuc, Camaj, Jankovic, Vukcevic; Krstovic, Jovetic
Lithuania possible starting lineup:
Zubas; Utkus, Klimavicius, Lekiatas; Lasickas, Gineitis, Vorobjovas, Sirvys; Novikovas, Paulauskas, Cernych
We say: Montenegro 2-1 Lithuania
While there is nothing but pride riding on this fixture for Lithuania, Montenegro can keep their slim hopes of securing a top-two finish in Group G alive with a win on Thursday, but they must hope that Serbia fail to beat Bulgaria on Sunday.
Lithuania managed to frustrate Montenegro in the reverse fixture, but we believe the hosts will do enough to claim a slender victory this time around.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.