Bosnia-Herzegovina v Montenegro
23 September 1945hrs
Football – Europe – Nations League
Pick Bosnia-H win
Bookmaker bet365
Odds: 1.70 odds taken 1044 GMT, Thursday 22nd September
Friday evening brings us the return of the Nations League and features this upcoming clash in League B/Group 3 between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica with Bosnia-Herzegovina looking to open up their lead at the top of the group, while Montenegro know that a win here on Friday night would send them top of Group 3 at their hosts’ expense.
Table of Contents
Bosnia-Herzegovina Preview – Can Bosnia-H extend lead at top of Group 3?
Following a miserable run of four defeats on the trot in World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies, Friday’s hosts, Bosnia-Herzegovina, have since rallied and have put together a promising looking five-match unbeaten run in another friendly along with their opening four games of this season’s Nations League as well.
Previously, Bosnia-Herzegovina had slumped to four losses on the trot, suffering defeats at the hands of Finland and Ukraine in 3-1 and 2-0 losses at home in World Cup qualifiers, along with subsequent defeats against USA and Georgia in international friendlies, so their unbeaten start to this season’s Nations League campaign has been a welcome improvement.
Two wins and two draws have helped Bosnia-Herzegovina to the summit of Group 3 where they hold a narrow one-point lead over their upcoming 2nd placed visitors, Montenegro, thanks to victories at home gained over Romania and Finland in 1-0 and 3-2 wins, while also picking up useful points on the road in draws at Finland 1-1 and Montenegro 1-1.
As a result, Bosnia’s form in the Nations League has improved and this solid start to this new term in this competition ended a previously disappointing run of seven games without a win in this format, including four defeats within this period.
However, the recent wins against Romania and Finland will have revived the hosts ahead of this important fixture, which, if they win, will see Bosnia-Herzegovina gain promotion and make a return to League A for the next campaign.
Montenegro Preview – Can Montenegro hold up their hosts?
Montenegro currently sit in 2nd place in Group 3 and find themselves just one point behind their Friday night’s hosts having also made a reasonable start to this Nations League campaign, but they face a tough assignment in Zenica on Friday night at the Stadion Bilino Polje as the visitors look to gate-crash Bosnia-Herzegovina’s party.
Home and away wins against Romania in 2-0 and 3-0 victories respectively have helped Montenegro into possible contention for promotion up to League A for the first time in this format’s short history, but a 2-0 defeat away from home at Finland perhps suggests Montenegro may have their work cut out to get a result at Bosnia on Friday night.
On the bigger international picture, Montenegro have really struggled for wins overall in all competitions as the visitors have managed to pick up just four wins out of their last 16 matches overall, two of which were against Romania and another in the shape of a 3-0 win away at minnows, Gibraltar.
Having also registered just two wins out of their last eight outings on the road in all competitions, Montenegro’s chances of gaining a result over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica are looking increasingly slim, especially as they’ve lost three out of their last four away games overall.
Montenegro coach, Miodrag Radulovic, is expected to name the same starting eleven as that of the side that registered a convincing 3-0 win away at Romania last time out, with forward Stefan Mugosa scoring a hat-trick in that recent victory, set to lead the line here for the visitors.
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Bosnia-Herzegovina v Montenegro
Key Facts – Bosnia-Herzegovina v Montenegro Tip
- Bosnia-Herzegovina still remain unbeaten after their opening 4 games
- Bosnia-Herzegovina have won their last 2 home games in the Nations League
- Montenegro have registered just 2 wins out of their last 8 outings on the road
Bosnia-Herzegovina with home advantage for Friday night’s vital fixture with 2nd placed Montenegro look to hold the box seat in terms of gaining possible promotion over their rivals as the hosts look very capable of avoiding defeat at the very least but with skipper Edin Dzeko up front, Bosnia-Herzegovina look favourites to pick up all three points in this encounter, which would send the hosts up into League A for next term.
The best betting odds for Bosnia-Herzegovina v Montenegro
Bosnia-H to win: 1.70 at bet365
Draw: 3.50 at bet365
Montenegro to win: 4.75 at bet365
