Dečić footballers will debut tonight in the European elite, the first match of the 1st round of Champions League qualification against TNS (The New Saints) will be played in the Welsh town of Ostwestry, right next to the English border, at 19:XNUMX local time, an hour later our time.
Tuzani flew from Tivat to Manchester yesterday and took a bus to Wales. They felt the spirit of Britain, and in the evening, the artificial grass of the "Park Hall" stadium, with a capacity of 3.000 chairs.
The fact that the match is played on a synthetic rather than a natural surface gives the debut of Milorad Peković's team in the qualification for the LŠ a specific, one might even say, heavier note.
- For sure, the advantage is on their side, because they always play on an artificial surface, but I don't think we should think about it. We need to concentrate on the match, to give our best - says one of the most experienced players in Dečić, Draško Božović.
Dečić did well in the draw - according to UEFA's rating, the Welsh league belongs to the lowest house of European football, it is a step above the Montenegrin one, but that does not mean that our champion is the favorite - against anyone, not the champion of the country whose national team plays in almost every major competition.
According to the bookmakers, TNS plays the role of favorites tonight (the odds on the home team is around 1,5, the victory of Tuzan pays odds of six), for which, above all, it is the meritorious experience - for the 11th time in the last 12 years, the Welsh are starting their European campaign from the qualification for Champions League, and Dečić first.
The home team, however, is still an unknown for Tuzan, because one thing he saw from the game, another is the encounter on the field. It is similar from the Welsh point of view, so they believe in Dečić that they can - surprise.
- We believe in ourselves, in our quality and we will try to show it in these two games - says Peković.
- They are a good team, dominant in their championship. TNS plays dynamic football, the players are very physically fit, they don't spare themselves, they go to the maximum in every duel, they have a lot of rhythm in the matches and they are always at a high level.
Rhythm is certainly not an advantage of the team coming from the Montenegrin League, but our champion certainly has its trump cards.
- They are aggressive, disciplined, but they also have some problems that we will try to exploit. We will try to impose ourselves and, with a bit of luck, advance to the next round.
Dečić is playing his fifth European game tonight, he will try to achieve his first victory - in the qualifications for the 2021 Conference League, he was defeated both times by Kosovo's Drita, a year later in the same competition, there was a defeat and a draw in a double-header with Dinamo from Minsk.
- You have to be patient, two games are being played. It can be an advantage that we play the second leg at home - Peković added.
Of the several reinforcements, four are in competition to be tonight's starters - full back Malešević, midfielder Kajević, wings Mašović and Pulejo.
- Đeljaj and Balić were injured, the rest are ready - "reported" Peković.
The match could start like this: Nikić in goal, Drešaj, Milić, Đoljaj and Malešević in the last line, Bajović, Čagas (Kajević), Božović in midfield, Mašović and Pujelo (Stijepović) on the wings, Matić in attack, and it is not excluded that Peković uses one variant tonight, and the other for the rematch.
- The games we fought for all year are ahead of us. We can't wait for it to start - said Draško Božović, who repaired a muscle injury sustained during the preparations at Zlatibor.
The municipality of Tuzi will organize watching the matches on the new square, TNS announced that the free broadcast of the match will be available on the club's website, and Uefa has chosen a referee - it is Jonathan Lardo, who has been refereeing matches of the Belgian Zupil league for more than a decade.
The second leg is in Gorica next Tuesday.
Bonus video:
