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Montenegro vs Cyprus: Hosts Carry the Stronger Nations League Case into Podgorica. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.
Montenegro's unbeaten record against Cyprus, higher FIFA ranking, and recent home form support a home win with both teams scoring. Cyprus's three-match unbeaten run and new attacking options increase the likelihood of them scoring despite Montenegro's past clean sheets against them.
A 2-1 scoreline fits Montenegro's scoring ability and Cyprus's recent unbeaten run, reflecting their offensive persistence and Montenegro's home form. The selection respects Montenegro's higher ranking and Cyprus's potential to score despite previous clean sheets against them.
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REGISTER FREE & UNLOCK TIP →Already registered? Log in18+ · Historical results only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Betting involves risk.Compare form, H2H, goals trends and key data for Montenegro v Cyprus.
Montenegro begin their latest UEFA Nations League campaign back in League C, facing Cyprus in Podgorica with both sides trying to establish an early position in a group completed by Armenia and Latvia.
Montenegro vs Cyprus — bet365 Market Snapshot
Swipe through key markets with illustrative probabilities and sample bet365 odds based on our match analysis.
Montenegro's superior Nations League record and ranking support their win chance.
Montenegro's stronger Nations League record supports their status as favourites.
Recent matches show both teams have scoring potential in this fixture.
Montenegro's scoring and Cyprus's unbeaten run make 2-1 a credible outcome.
Three Punchy Stats
- Montenegro are unbeaten in five meetings with Cyprus, winning two and drawing three, including 2-0 and 4-0 victories in their two Nations League encounters in 2020.
- Cyprus lost three of their four away matches during World Cup qualifying, while Montenegro split their four home qualifiers evenly between two wins and two defeats.
- Jovetic has scored 37 goals in 91 appearances for Montenegro, giving the hosts an experienced attacking focal point in a match where Cyprus have failed to score in two of their last three defeats.
Scoring Frequency Comparison
Recent attacking records for Montenegro and Cyprus are shown below.
Clean Sheet Comparison
Recent defensive records for Montenegro and Cyprus are shown below.
The hosts arrive with the stronger recent competitive pedigree and a favourable record in this fixture. Montenegro have never lost to Cyprus, winning two and drawing three of their five meetings, while the 44-place gap between the teams in the FIFA rankings adds another layer to the comparison. Yet Cyprus travel with three matches unbeaten and with enough fresh attacking interest to make this more than a routine assignment.
Montenegro have more than history in their favour
Relegation from League B means Montenegro are operating a level lower than in the previous two Nations League editions, but their broader record in this competition remains respectable: nine wins from 24 matches, alongside three draws and 12 defeats.
Recent form offers encouragement too. Mirko Vucinic's side have won two and lost only one of their last four matches, most recently drawing 2-2 with Slovakia. Across a slightly longer seven-game stretch they have four victories, while narrow defeats against Croatia and Slovenia suggest some of the setbacks in that sequence were competitive rather than emphatic.
Their home qualifying record also deserves attention. Montenegro won two and lost two at home during World Cup qualifying, with both defeats coming against sides that subsequently reached the tournament in North America. That gives their home return rather more context than the bare win-loss split provides.
Cyprus, by contrast, lost three of their four away qualifiers. Their current three-match unbeaten away run is better reading, although victories or positive results against San Marino and Liechtenstein make it sensible not to overstate the sequence. A draw with Slovenia is the more substantial result within that run.
Jovetic still gives the hosts an established threat
Montenegro's attacking options contain considerably more proven international scoring than Cyprus can point to among the named players.
Stevan Jovetic remains central to that. The 36-year-old has 37 goals from 91 international appearances and is expected to operate in the final third, with Milutin Osmajic, who has nine Montenegro goals, also likely to start. Their presence gives the hosts two established scoring references rather than leaving the attacking burden on one player.
There is also a neat personal detail surrounding Jovetic: he plays his club football in Cyprus with AEL Limassol. Familiarity does not automatically translate into an advantage, but his international record makes him far more relevant to this match than the coincidence of his club address.
Further back, Sead Haksabanovic is expected in midfield, while Stefan Savic should feature centrally in defence.
Edwards gives Cyprus a fresh variable
Cyprus have an element of uncertainty that Montenegro must account for. Marcus Edwards has received his first international call-up and is expected to start after qualifying through his mother, while Leonidas Konomis and Nicholas Tsaroulla are also in line for possible debuts during this international window.
Edwards' inclusion gives Akis Mantzios a new option at a time when Cyprus are showing improved results. They beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in their most recent match and have gone three games without defeat.
There is, though, an attacking omission worth noting. Iasonas Pikis has been left out despite contributing four goals and three assists in seven matches for Pyunik in the Armenian league. Cyprus therefore arrive with new faces but without one player producing strong club numbers.
Their larger Nations League record remains modest: six wins, six draws and 14 defeats from 26 matches. Montenegro's record is hardly dominant, but it is stronger, and that difference fits the wider evidence around this fixture.
📊 Market Explainer
Win & Both Teams to Score
Selection: Montenegro to win and Both Teams to Score. The selected team must win in normal time and both teams must score. If the selected team draws or loses, or either side fails to score, the bet loses.
Correct Score Market
Selection: Montenegro vs Cyprus 2-1. Predict the exact score at the end of 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count unless the bookmaker states otherwise.
🎯 Pick 1: Montenegro to win and Both Teams to Score @ 11/4
Montenegro enter this Nations League opener with an established competitive edge at home and a historical advantage over Cyprus, having won two and drawn three of their five all-time meetings without defeat. Relegation from League B places Mirko Vucinic’s side back in League C, but four victories from their last seven outings and two wins from four home World Cup qualifiers show a team capable of securing results against lower-ranked opponents. Facing a side 44 places beneath them in the FIFA rankings, the hosts possess the necessary structure to claim three points in Podgorica.
The inclusion of both teams scoring relies on recent defensive trends and new variables in the Cypriot setup. Montenegro recently drew 2-2 with Slovakia, proving that while their forward line produces goals, their backline remains open to conceding. Cyprus arrive on a three-match unbeaten run that includes a 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein and a creditable draw with Slovenia. With Marcus Edwards expected to make his debut alongside potential debuts for Leonidas Konomis and Nicholas Tsaroulla, Cyprus offer fresh attacking options that can capitalise on Montenegro’s tendency to allow chances, even if the visitors lost three of their four away qualifiers during World Cup qualification.
Montenegro’s head-to-head record includes 2-0 and 4-0 clean-sheet wins over Cyprus in 2020, which presents a counter-argument to the visitor scoring requirement. However, Cyprus’s recent three-game unbeaten sequence and Montenegro’s multi-goal concession against Slovakia indicate that a home victory with both teams finding the net represents a well-reasoned assessment of this matchup.
🎯 Tactical Indicators
- Montenegro have never lost to Cyprus in five meetings, with two wins and three draws.
- Montenegro sit 44 places higher in FIFA rankings and have a 37.5% win rate in League B/C.
- Montenegro drew 2-2 with Slovakia; Cyprus are unbeaten in their last three matches including a win and a draw.
Risk Factor: Montenegro kept clean sheets in both 2020 Nations League games against Cyprus; if Cyprus fail to score, the bet loses even if Montenegro win.
Key Tactical Mismatch
Stevan Jovetic (37 goals, 91 caps) and Milutin Osmajic (9 goals) give the hosts 46 combined international goals in attack.
Cyprus lost 3 of 4 away World Cup qualifiers and have suffered 14 defeats in 26 overall Nations League fixtures.
⚔️ Pick 2: Montenegro vs Cyprus 2-1 @ 13/2
Montenegro’s international goalscorers provide realistic home firepower, while Cyprus’s three-match unbeaten run supports an away goal.
A 2-1 outcome for Montenegro reflects both their superior overall pedigree and the likelihood of Cyprus finding a breakthrough in Podgorica. Montenegro have scored regularly in recent competitive fixtures, supported by Stevan Jovetic’s 37 international goals in 91 caps and Milutin Osmajic’s nine international goals. Given that Montenegro split their four home World Cup qualifiers evenly with two wins, generating two goals against a Cypriot side that lost three of four away qualifiers fits their typical home scoring profile without requiring an unrealistic rout.
The Cypriot side of the scoreline is grounded in their recent offensive persistence across a three-match unbeaten run. Although Cyprus failed to score in two of their last three defeats and possess a modest Nations League record of six wins from 26 matches, their recent 2-0 win against Liechtenstein and draw against Slovenia demonstrate an ability to create opportunities. Furthermore, the introduction of Marcus Edwards provides an unstudied threat against a Montenegrin defence that surrendered two goals in their recent 2-2 draw with Slovakia.
While Montenegro kept clean sheets in both of their 2020 Nations League victories over Cyprus, historical precedent does not guarantee another shut-out against a renovated squad. However, exact-score selections remain inherently sensitive to a single late goal or missed chance. A 2-1 scoreline aligns with Montenegro’s superior ranking and home record while respecting Cyprus’s recent unbeaten run.
Risk Factor: Correct score bets are vulnerable to a single goal difference; a 2-0 or 1-1 result would void this selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the "Montenegro to win and Both Teams to Score" market work?
Montenegro must win and Cyprus must score at least one goal for the bet to win.
What needs to happen for the 2-1 Correct Score selection to win?
Montenegro must score exactly two goals and Cyprus exactly one by full time.
Can I back Montenegro to win without requiring Cyprus to score?
Yes, backing Montenegro to win alone does not require Cyprus to score.
What is the head-to-head record between Montenegro and Cyprus?
Montenegro are unbeaten in five meetings, with two wins and three draws.
How have both teams performed in recent Nations League matches?
Montenegro have nine wins and Cyprus six wins in their Nations League history.
Why is Marcus Edwards significant for Cyprus in this match?
Edwards is a new attacking option on his first international call-up for Cyprus.
