Mitrović: We tried to keep Jovetić away from the ball; Pavlović: It will be difficult for every team in Podgorica

Serbian coach Dragan Stojković surprised Pixi a bit last night with the starting line-up for the match against Montenegro - he left Dušan Vlahović and Andrija Živković on the bench, and gave Filip Đuričić and Ivan Ilić a chance from the first minute.

However, after 45 minutes, Pixi had to make a change, so it was Vlahović and Živković who replaced Đuričić and Ilić. Then the Juventus forward scored two goals to give the Eagles their second win in the European Championship qualifiers.

Unlike Vlahović (scorer also against Lithuania), Aleksandar Mitrović failed to score a goal in two March matches in the Euro qualifiers. The Fulham striker was stopped last night in Podgorica.

"A difficult match against a strong opponent. I think we dominated during the match. They threatened us from the counterattack. We knew they had players who could decide the game with one move. We tried to keep Jovetic away from the ball. I think from the beginning we were the ones who dominated. We managed to use our chances. Montenegro also had opportunities, but Vanja saved. The atmosphere was good. We are satisfied - let's move on," said Mitrović in a conversation with journalists in the mix zone after the match. .

Only two qualifying rounds have been played, it is too early for any predictions.

"Montenegro is a solid, good team, it would be nice if they qualified for the European Championship. There is still a lot to play for, but if they play like tonight, then they have a chance. It's just the beginning. We're not even halfway through the qualifications yet. Also, important is that we entered the cycle with two wins. That is a mitigating circumstance before the continuation of the qualification," said Fulham goal scorer.

The best scorer in the history of the Serbian national team is not too disappointed by the fact that the March cycle ends without a goal in the national team jersey.

"It is important that we won, the goals will come. When you have players like Vlahović, Tadić, Milinković-Savić, the goals will come. The most important thing is that we played a good game and that we won", believes Mitrović.

Serbia is visiting Bulgaria in June.

"A tough win. Montenegro is a good, organized team, they were quite good on the counter. We knew that they were brave, fighting, that it would be difficult here - Montenegro played twice with the English in Podgorica," said Serbian captain Dušan Tadić.

For the first time in more than two decades, Serbia tied two victories at the start of the qualification for the European Championship.

"Six points is great, but the game was not at an enviable level. I think we can do better. There are a lot of things we can fix. The good thing is that we didn't concede a goal, although Montenegro had chances, which were the result of our mistakes." , said the Ajax player.

The result could have been different. Montenegro had opportunities, played well, but Vanja Milinković-Savić stopped Jovetić.

"There are still a lot of matches. I like how Montenegro is playing, I think it will be a fight until the last match," believes Vanja's brother, Sergej.

The representatives of Serbia praised the atmosphere before, but also during the match itself.

"It was difficult. The match was good. I congratulate Montenegro on an excellent game. I think it will be difficult for every team to take points here," said Strahinja Pavlović.