The leader and certain champion, the Buducnost team, has a chance to equal the Montenegrin football record for the number of consecutive wins ahead of the upcoming break in the championship due to national team commitments.
Ivan Brnović's team traveled to Berane after their tenth consecutive triumph - a streak that was only achieved by the generations of Buducnost from the 2011/12 and 2020/21 seasons.
However, the Jezera team is waiting, struggling for a first-league life and escaping last place with a triumph against Dečić away last week.
The record is also the biggest motivation for Buducnost, because the championship is practically settled - with 12 rounds left, the "blues" have 14 points more than second-placed Petrovac.
"It won't be easy, we're facing a team that's in form, that's tied two wins, fighting for survival. We certainly won't take them lightly. We need to have the unity we've had throughout the season, to all be at 100 percent. We know that's the only way we can achieve our goal, and that is of course victory," said Budućnost left-back and national team player Ognjen Gašević.
The chance to equal, or even break, the record is on my mind...
"We haven't thought about it until now, we've been going game by game, I think that's why we achieved it. When the record is close, why not? But, we'll go game by game again and see what will be enough," said Gašević.
With a goal and two assists against Otranto in the last round (5:1), he confirmed that he is in excellent form and rightly expects a new call-up from the Montenegrin national team coach Robert Prosinečki.
- I'm happy for the goal and two assists, but even happier when the team looks like this and when we win the game, come back from a deficit and show character - points out Gašević.
In the first part of the season, Buducnost had no problems dealing with Jezera in Berane (0:2), but the team from Plav got some revenge in Podgorica, when they took a point (1:1).
The March round before the international break brings a duel between second and third place - Bokelj awaits Petrovac in Kotor.
The difference in the standings between the two teams is as much as 13 points in favor of Petrovac, who hold the keys to qualifying for the European stage (Kotor has a match less). The home team wants to break a bad streak, as it has three consecutive defeats.
Sutjeska arrives in Podgorica, at the OFK Titograda Camp, to “attack” third place in the standings against Otranto as a guest (13 p.m.). The team from Nikšić was close on Wednesday, but lost to Mornar in extra time (1:1).
- We regret the points dropped in the last seconds, but that will not sway us, we want to go into the international break calm with a win against Otranto - says one of Sutjeska's coaches, Ivan Đuričković.
Krstović, Damjanović and Desančić are players that coach Milija Savović is not counting on due to injuries.
- I expect a tough match, Otrant is in an unenviable position in the standings, but the team has several excellent players in its ranks. On the other hand, we want to continue at a good pace - says Vukčević.
Nikšić will face motivated Ulcinj, who are last in the standings and fighting for survival, and they will also face a bad pitch.
- According to the information we received, the terrain will not be in ideal condition, which should in no way be an alibi - adds Vukčević.
At the FSCG Training Camp, just a few hundred meters from the field where Otrant - Sutjeska will play, Mornar - Arsenal will play two hours later (15 pm). The two teams in sixth and seventh place are separated by only one point.
In Bijelo Polje, Jedinstvo welcomes Dečić and is looking to escape the danger zone after losing to Jezera away last week. Tuzan, on the other hand, is in a bad rhythm - two consecutive losses to the two bottom teams in the table, Otranto and Jezera, and only one win in five spring matches.
Couples:
UNITY - DECIĆ (13 p.m.)
Referee: Marko Ćupić (Podgorica)
LAKE - THE FUTURE (13)
Referee: Nikola Vođević (Nikšić)
NAVAR - ARSENAL (15)
Referee: Mladen Knežević (Berane)
OTRANT - SUTJESKA (15)
Referee: Miloš Bošković (Podgorica)
BOKELJ - PETROVAC (15.30 p.m.)
Referee: Dalibor Vujisić (Podgorica)
Bonus video:
