The break is over, the MeridianBet First Montenegrin Football League continues with the matches of the 20nd round, and at the start of the second half, the biggest Montenegrin derby will be played - Budućnost will host Sutjeska in Podgorica tomorrow (18).
Buducnost did an excellent job in the first part of the championship, leading the championship with 45 points, 12 more than Petrovac, but a few days ago, in the quarterfinals of the Montenegrin Cup, they were sensationally eliminated by Iskra, after penalties (4:1, in the regular part it was 0:0). On the other hand, Sutjeska finished the first part of the season in seventh place with 24 points, three more than Jedinstvo, which is in the play-off zone.
And in Nikšić, there was a lot of activity in the break between the two parts. First, a new president was elected, since Boris Rašković succeeded Marko Mitrović, and with the new president came a new Board of Directors. And when it comes to the transition period, it was busy, so Aleksandar Desančić, Ajub Abu, Boris Kopitović, Balša Tošković, Aron Ismael Barket and Ivan Eljas Arbeljo came to Bistrica.
It is also very important for the team of Nikšić that Vasko Kalezić, who was the team's top scorer in the first half, along with Nikola Janjić, has extended his contract. Both scored seven goals each.
"We have a night game, a nice atmosphere, a derby. The future is shaken after the elimination in the Cup, but that cannot disturb us. We have to come out bravely, be determined and try to win. I hope for the best," Kalezić said at today's press conference.
The Sutjeska footballer also spoke about the preparations for the second part of the season.
"We've been preparing for a long time, we had preparations in Ulcinj. I think we've prepared well. We've also made changes to the squad, we'll look different than in the first half. In the first half we played hot and cold, I hope we'll have continuity in the second half and that we'll win more. The style of play will be different. The new players have fitted in well. I hope we can all achieve a result," said the forward of the Nikšić "blues".
Kalezić, along with Janjić, was Sutjeska's best player in the first half.
"The least important thing is who scores the goal. We have a lot of creative players, I hope they will show that in the next games and that they will show that they are reinforcements," said Kalezić.
Sutjeska was last better than Buducnost in September 2021. Since then, 15 matches have been played, including the Cup, and Buducnost has won eight times, while seven matches have ended in draws.
"The expectations are the same as in any derby. To give our maximum, to play as well as possible. If we do all that, then I believe we can win. The health report is solid - Vlahović and Đurović have had problems since the beginning of preparations and are not ready, the others are," said Sutjeska coach Milija Savović.
Savović also commented on the changes in the lineup.
"Considering the results we had in the first half, it was normal for there to be a change in the squad, because the results in the first half do not satisfy the level of a club like Sutjeska. We did everything we could to strengthen the playing staff. We brought in six new players, some of whom we will see in the derby from the start. Not everyone came at the same time, not everyone is equally ready, so it will take time to get used to it. But they raised the level of quality and training and the matches we played in the preparatory period. We will see how all of that will look in the championship," concluded Savović.
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