The first against the second, or - the first against the first, because Berane and Mladost DG are tied at the top ahead of today's mutual collision and the big second division derby at the City Stadium in Berane (16 p.m.), which will most likely decide the new first division.
The two teams have 47 points each, four more than the third-placed Kom. If it is known that there are only three rounds left until the end, and that due to the odd number of teams (the winter appearance of OFK Nikšić) both Berana and Mladost DG have only two matches remaining, then it is clear that it will be fought - a battle for the elite, in the real meaning of that word.
"We did not plan to be candidates for entry into the First League already in the first season. According to the plan and project we made last summer, it should have happened in one of the following seasons. But, when we have already spent 20 rounds this season in first place, it would be a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity that presented itself to us", says coach Beran. Milan Radulović, former champion of Montenegro with Zeta, Cup winner with Mogren, former Buducnosti stopper and international player in Poland and Israel.
Berane is an "old" first league team, a team that played in the elite in the premier season in independent Montenegro, was a member of the first league for two more seasons, and the last time was eight years ago - in 2015.
OFK Mladost Donja Gorica, on the other hand, was founded in 2019 as a branch of Podgorica - the former Mladost from Lješkopolje, but soon began to operate independently, in order to overcome the "neighbor" with which it shares the stadium - "DG Arena" in points this season. Last season, she played a playoff for the elite (defeat against Rudar), and now she has a great opportunity.
"We are going to Berane for a positive result, and that would be anything but a defeat for us, because even with a draw we would keep first place and maintain a better score between us," says coach Mladost DG Marko Scepanovic, former champion of Montenegro with Budućnosti and OFK Titograd, international player in Hungary, Iran, Albania...
"We were fifth in the half-season, we were far behind not only when it comes to first place, but the playoff zone. We played a fantastic second part, exceeded all possible expectations, in 11 matches in the spring half-season we conceded only two goals and we are going to try to make the last effort", added Šćepanović.
In the autumn part, Berane won at home against Mladost DG 3:0, but that's why Mladost won twice at home 3:2, 1:0.
"We are playing at home, there will be a lot of audience, there is always one in Berane, and we got a zicer-sitation. Even if we won, not all the work would be finished, but we would be really close", points out Milan Radulović.
Third-placed Kom is free in this round, so Podgorica (visiting Grblja) and Bokelj (visiting Zeta) have a chance to get close to it.
However, Grbalj and Zeta are desperately fighting for survival, and Otrant-Olimpik and Igalo are not sure yet either, whose duel makes up the fourth pair of today's 33rd round.
Couples: Berane - Mladost DG (16 p.m.), Zeta - Bokelj (16.30:16.30 p.m.), Grbalj - Podgorica (16.30:XNUMX p.m.), Igalo - Otrant-Olimpik (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.).
Table: Berane, Mladost DG 47, Kom 43, Podgorica 39, Bokelj 38, Igalo 36, Otrant-Olimpik 35, Zeta 32, Grbalj 31.
Bonus video:
