Montenegro vs Czech Republic Prediction: Visitors to come out on top again

Montenegro and the Czech Republic meet for the second time in their Fifa World Cup qualifying group on Friday (19:45 BST) at Podgorica City Stadium. The visitors won the reverse fixture 2-0 in June and they currently top the group with nine points from their opening four fixtures.

The hosts have won two of their three matches to date and a win here would draw them level with their opponents. Below you will find my Montenegro vs Czech Republic predictions, aided by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Montenegro will be forced into at least two changes from the June defeat against the Czech Republic with goalkeeper Igor Nikic and defender Marko Vesovic unavailable due to injury.

Danijel Petkovic could deputise between the sticks, while Marko Vucevic is in line to start at right wing-back, providing that Prosinecki sticks with a three-man back line.

Stevan Jovetic is likely to start up front as Montenegro's all-time leading goalscorer with 37.

Football Odds

Czech Republic will be in need of a change at right-back as Vladimir Coufal was not selected for this squad. Tomas Holes may be given the nod to start in this position on Friday.

Martin Vitik may be handed a start at centre-back but the remainder of the XI is likely to be the same one that featured in the 5-1 defeat to Croatia in June. This includes Premier League duo Ladislav Krejci (Wolves) and captain Tomas Soucek (West Ham United) in defence and midfield respectively.

Bayer Leverkusen's Patrik Schick should continue to lead the line, having bagged 24 goals in 46 appearances for his country.

Montenegro vs Czech Republic Odds

Montenegro have won two of their three qualifiers to date but they have already been beaten by Friday's opponents. They are 4/1 to exact revenge.

Their last outing saw them draw 2-2 in a friendly with Armenia and the stalemate is marketed at 13/5.

Czech Republic are the 8/11 (implied probability of 57.9%) favourites to pick up the three points here, having won four of their last five fixtures.

The visitors' Schick heads the anytime goalscorer market at 7/5, while Jovetic is the shortest-priced player for Montenegro at 11/4.

Czech Republic and over 1.5 goals @ 23/20

The Czech Republic will look to extend their lead at the top of Group L. Croatia (second) and Monetengro (third) both have games in hand on them, so a victory here would pull them six points clear of their opponents.

They were 2-0 victors against the Brave Falcons in Plzen in the reverse fixture. Schick was on the scoresheet that day and he has been in excellent form for the Representatives since his return from injury.

Montenegro will hope that home advantage can help their cause on Friday but I think the added quality in the visitors' ranks should help the Czech Republic prevail over the hosts once again.

I've boosted the odds by adding over 1.5 goals because it has struck in the Czech Republic's previous five games in all competitions.

Patrik Schick anytime goalscorer @ 7/5

Since recovering from a calf injury, Schick has been in good form for the Czech Republic, netting four goals in as many World Cup qualifiers, including in the reverse fixture against Montenegro back in June.

He is his country's current leading top scorer with 24 goals and his goalscoring exploits for Bayer Leverkusen sets him up nicely for another productive international break. Schick bagged 21 goals in the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, while he currently has two in as many games in the current campaign.

I think he will carry this momentum into this clash and I believe we will see him hurt Montenegro a second time.

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