Bulgaria vs Montenegro - prediction, team news, lineups

Back-to-back wins successful March person fixed Bulgaria a timely assurance boost, and Aleksandar Dimitrov’s broadside volition look to transportation that momentum into Sunday’s affable erstwhile they instrumentality connected Montenegro astatine Stadion Hristo Botev successful Plovdiv.

Dimitrov’s Lions caput successful with 3 wins from their past 4 matches aft a miserable World Cup qualifying campaign, portion a Montenegro broadside inactive searching for consistency marque the travel having conceded 3 successful their astir caller outing against Slovenia.

Match preview

Bulgaria caput into Sunday’s fixture successful the champion signifier they person shown successful immoderate time, having won 3 of their past 4 matches aft a torrid tally that saw them suffer 5 consecutive games during their World Cup qualifying campaign.

That qualifying run ended successful vexation for the Lions, who finished bottommost of Group E with conscionable 1 triumph - a grounds that featured the fewest goals scored and the astir conceded successful the group, and yet extinguished immoderate anticipation of reaching the 2026 finals successful the United States.

The turnaround came during the March FIFA Series, wherever Bulgaria dispatched the Solomon Islands 10-2 earlier edging past Indonesia 1-0 a fewer days later.

Despite those results, antiaircraft fragility remains a interest for Dimitrov’s side, having conceded successful 9 of the past 10 games.

Bulgaria person not qualified for a World Cup since 1998 - contempt having reached the finals 7 times successful their history, and portion Sunday’s affable carries nary competitory weight, Dimitrov volition beryllium anxious to physique connected caller results and springiness his squad a affirmative level heading into the adjacent qualifying cycle.

Montenegro person besides endured a hard period, winning conscionable 3 of their past 10 matches crossed each competitions, and their ain World Cup qualifying run ended successful disappointment with a fourth-place decorativeness successful Group L from 3 wins and 5 defeats. 

Mirko Vucinic’s broadside did amusement immoderate signs of beingness successful March, comfortably beating Andorra earlier suffering a 3-2 decision to Slovenia.

In the past 5 meetings betwixt the 2 nations, Montenegro clasp the vantage with 2 wins and 3 draws - Bulgaria are yet to bushed Montenegro successful caller history.

Bulgaria International Friendlies form:

Bulgaria signifier (all competitions):

Montenegro International Friendlies form:

Montenegro signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Bulgaria volition beryllium without skipper and cardinal winger Kiril Despodov, who misses the lucifer done injury, a important nonaccomplishment fixed his value to the hosts’ attacking play successful the last third.

Filip Krastev has besides been near retired of the squad owed to injury, and Dimitrov named a 26-man radical that includes 2 caller faces successful midfielders Petko Panayotov and Efe Ali.

Montenegro question to Plovdiv without skipper and seasoned striker Stevan Jovetic, who has been omitted from the squad.

Atalanta guardant Nikola Krstovic is expected to measurement up and pb the enactment successful Jovetic’s absence, with the 26-year-old carrying the superior goalscoring work for the visitors.

Among the caller call-ups for Montenegro are 21-year-old goalkeeper Benjamin Krijestarac and defender Andrija Raznatovic, some of whom could diagnostic during the people of the match.

Bulgaria imaginable starting lineup:

Naumov; Turitsov, Ivanov, Tsenov, Petrov; Kraev; Petkov, Tsonev, Iliev, Dimitrov; Minchev

Montenegro imaginable starting lineup:

Petkovic; Marusic, Vujacic, Rubezic, Vesovic; Vukotic, Simun, Loncar, Haksabanovic; Krstovic, Osmajic

We say: Bulgaria 1-1 Montenegro

Both defences person shown they tin beryllium opened up successful caller months, and with Montenegro having won the past 2 meetings betwixt the sides, the visitors are improbable to beryllium overawed astatine Stadion Hristo Botev.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.