Bulgaria v Montenegro – Betting Preview
Bulgaria Summary
Bulgaria faces Montenegro to open their qualifying campaign for 2024 and they are in reasonable form. The host had not lost a game since the 5-2 setback to Georgia in the Nationals League, which was back in June 2022.
Bulgaria kept their place in UEFA Nations League C by finishing 2nd place in their group. Since that competition ended they have done well in friendly games with a 0-0 draw against Luxembourg, which was on the back of a 2-0 win over Cyprus.
Recently appointed manager Mladen Krstajić has got a good response from the team. He was brought in soon after the nation drew with Gibraltar in a low point for the nation.
Montenegro Summary
Montenegro begins their qualification just two spots above Bulgaria in the FIFA world rankings.
They have slipped 23 places down the rankings in the last four years. However, due to their superior head-to-head record, they managed to hold onto their place in UEFA Nations League B, seeing Romania relegated instead.
The manager Miodrag Radulović is under pressure due to poor results, but in the end, was backed to stay on as manager. This despite winning just one of his last seven matches.
The boss has not impressed at the helm but is demanding an improvement from his players here, and would be content with a point from this game.
Radulović has talked up his squad and called up what he believes is his best available team. He will opt for proven quality and experience over experimentation for the future.
Betting Analysis
Looking at the 1×2 market first. Bulgaria is @ 2.45 to win. The draw is @ 3.0 while the away win is @ 2.80.
Moving onto the Asian handicap betting for this contest. Bulgaria is a marginal jolly but so close is the betting between these two well matched nations, the Draw no bet (DNB) is offered as a cushion.
So a bet on either Bulgaria -0 @ 1.78 or Montenegro -0 @ 2.03 would see the full stake returned should it end as a draw.
Looking at The Under/Over goal betting last of all. The line is set at 2, the over is @ 1.80 and the Under is @ 1.95.
Goals were rare for both of these sides in the last Euros qualification. Montenegro have only scored twice in their last four matches. Eight of Montenegro’s last ten games have seen less than three goals.
