Lithuania vs Montenegro prediction: EUROPE: Euro – Qualification betting tips on match 2023-09-06 16:00.
Although it is still early in their quest for UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, Lithuania are currently on course for their second successive winless Euro qualifying campaign. So far in Group G, Edgaras Jankauskas’ side have been beaten 2-0 away from home by both Hungary and Serbia, the top two sides, while a 1-1 home draw in a more ‘winnable’ game against Bulgaria could be seen as a missed opportunity.
The point picked up against Bulgaria was perhaps a solid one on reflection, as Lithuania played the final 73 minutes of the game with only ten men, but alarmingly the draw did extend their winless home run to seven games (D3, L4). A blunt front line is partly behind that plight, as Lithuania failed to score in four of those matches. They netted only once in the other three, and perhaps that explains why you need to go back to October 2021 to find their last competitive international victory, a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in a World Cup qualifier.
Peculiarly, Montenegro’s last win also came against Bulgaria in March of this year, and thanks to one further point collected from two tough home matches against Hungary and Serbia, they find themselves sitting third in Group G, three points from the qualification places. A top-two finish is certainly the aim for Montenegro, who since proclaiming independence from Serbia in 2006, and vying to qualify for tournaments from 2010 onwards, have never reached a major tournament finals.
However, the Brave Falcons should travel to Kaunas brimming with confidence after beating Lithuania in both of their previous meetings, most recently emerging as 4-1 victors in their last away H2H in 2018. Away from home you never quite know what to expect from Miodrag Radulović’s side, who have won two of their last four road trips (L2) and will fancy tipping the balance in their favour on Thursday.
Players to watch: Only one player has scored more international goals for Lithuania than Fedor Černych, who has found the net 12 times for his country, eight of which have served as game openers. Nikola Krstovic scored the only goal in Montenegro’s last away game and the Lecce striker comes into this game in strong domestic form after notching in his last two Serie A appearances.
Hot stat: Each of Montenegro’s last nine away fixtures saw only one side score.