The third round of qualifications for one of the UEFA competitions in recent years was a "utopia" for Montenegrin football clubs, and this summer even the play-off, the last obstacle before the group stage, does not seem unattainable from the point of view of the champions of our country.
Dečić Admiralbet fought for an active result against favorites Helsinki seven days ago in the north of Europe, perhaps he deserved not to be defeated in the capital of Finland, but even with minus one (1:0) he can dream of continuing his European travels...
Guys Milorad Peković tomorrow evening (Thursday, 21 p.m.) in the return match of the 3rd round of qualification for the Conference League, they welcome Helsinki - after this summer they were already "hosts" in Gorica, and at the Camp of the Football Association of Montenegro, now it will be in Nikšić.
- Although we enter the match with a deficit of one goal from the first match, we believe that we can go further - he said Matija Božanović, midfielder of the club from Tuzi.
Among other things, the Montenegrin champion finds his optimism in the game from the "Bolt Arena".
- That's right - we especially believe because of what was shown in the first game, added Božanović.
In Scandinavia, Dečić shook the opponent's net twice - one goal was canceled by VAR due to offside, and the other by the referee Sandi Putros who estimated that it is Bojan Matic before the goal Ognje Stijepovića made a foul... It was, to say the least, a controversial decision by the referee from Denmark.
- I think we played a very good match, that we deserved to return undefeated, but a little luck was missing, Božanović believes.
Luck was particularly lacking for Dečić at the end of the match when it was Božanović who handled himself brilliantly, shot and hit the crossbar... In any case, the not very impressive edition of Helsinki did not change the image of that club among the players Milorad Peković.
- We don't need to waste words about them... We are aware of what kind of team it is and what quality it has - Božanović is clear.
Dečić started the European summer in the Champions League qualifiers against TNS when he missed the chance to advance in the first match. That's why he improved everything in the Conference League during the first 90 minutes - against Dinamo from Batumi he celebrated away (2:0), while he brought an active result from Finland.
- We will try to continue a series of good matches in Europe and I believe that we will succeed in reaching a positive outcome, especially since we have an active result from the first duel, says Božanović.
What Dečić has to be during the 90 minutes in Nikšić if he wants to make it to the Conference League...
- We have to be smart, patient and reduce mistakes to a minimum, and at the same time take advantage of the chances we have - concluded Božanović.
Helsinki arrives in a good mood
Unlike Dečić, who played only five matches until the first duel in Finland, Helsinki is in full competitive form, because he has already completed 19 rounds of the domestic championship.
In addition, the victory against our representative came after a somewhat turbulent summer and a defeat against Lahti, after which the champion of Finland fell to the fourth position in the table.
- Yes, we are satisfied after the first game - we didn't concede a goal and we won. We are going to the away game in a good mood, he said briefly on the club's website Toni Korkeakunas, trainer Helsinki.
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