Montenegro vs Latvia Prediction & Betting Tips (12 November)

Montenegro host Latvia at the Podgorica City Stadium on Thursday 12 November 2026 (20:45 CET) in a UEFA Nations League C Group 2 clash that could settle the section's title race. The Brave Falcons sit top of the group with ten points from four matches (three wins, one draw, 7-4 goal difference) and know that victory over the bottom-placed Latvians will put them on the brink of promotion to League B ahead of their tricky final-day trip to Cyprus. Mirko Vučinić's men have been the standout side of the group so far, beating Cyprus 2-1 in Podgorica, edging a five-goal thriller 2-3 in Armenia, winning the reverse fixture 1-2 in Riga and grinding out a 0-0 stalemate with Armenia last time out. Latvia, meanwhile, prop up the table with a single point from four games (0-1-3, 2-6), are already mathematically unable to win promotion, and arrive having failed to score in three of their four group matches. The latest team news out of Podgorica only strengthens the favourites' hand: Vučinić has called up in-form Košice striker Aleksa Maraš, who has eight league goals this season including one in each of his last three matches, while Lazio defender Adam Marušić returns to the fold to give Montenegro a genuine Serie A presence at the back. With a near-full-strength 2026/27 squad at his disposal and a packed home crowd behind them, anything less than three points would be a major surprise.

Montenegro's 2026/27 squad blends battle-hardened veterans with one of the most exciting young cores in European football. Between the posts Balša Popović, Igor Nikić and Danijel Petković compete for the gloves, while the defensive unit is built around Stefan Savić (81 caps, now at Trabzonspor), Igor Vujačić, Risto Radunović, Slobodan Rubežić and Milan Roganović, with the returning Marušić pushing for a start. The engine room features Marko Janković, Stefan Lončar, Sead Hakšabanović and Andrija Bulatović, but the real X-factor is 20-year-old Vasilije Adžić of Sassuolo, who already has four goals in ten internationals and scored both Montenegrin goals in the 1-2 win in Riga. Up front, the pairing of Nikola Krstović (Atalanta, 38 caps, 10 goals) and Milutin Osmajić (Genoa, 40 caps, 10 goals) gives Vučinić two genuine Serie A-calibre finishers, supported by veteran Stevan Jovetić, Viktor Đukanović, Aleksa Latković and the uncapped but red-hot Maraš. That firepower was on full display in September's 2-3 win in Yerevan, where Krstović, an Erik Piloyan own goal and an 89th-minute Latković winner snatched all three points. The momentum continued with the professional 1-2 away victory over Latvia, and while the goalless 0-0 home draw with Armenia was a rare blank, it kept Montenegro unbeaten and in control of the group.

Latvia's 2026/27 squad, coached by Paolo Nicolato, is built on organisation rather than star power. Goalkeeper Kristaps Matreviķis has kept his place ahead of the experienced Pāvels Šteinbors, with Deniss Melņiks, Antonijs Černomordijs and Dennis Cirkin forming a three-man back line. Daniels Balodis and Roberts Ozols add depth in central defence, while Andrejs Cigaņiks, Eduards Emsiņs, Aleksejs Saveljevs, Dmitrijs Zelenkovs and Vladimirs Kamešs make up a hard-working midfield. The attacking burden falls on Vladislavs Gutkovskis, Raimonds Krollis, Roberts Uldriķis and Markuss Strods, the latter netting Latvia's consolation in the 1-2 home defeat to Montenegro, with Eduards Dašķevičs scoring in the 2-1 loss in Nicosia. The numbers make grim reading for Latvian fans: one point from four Nations League matches, just two goals scored, no wins in their last 15 internationals (two wins in their last 20), and fewer than two goals scored in each of their last nine fixtures. They failed to register a single shot on target in the 0-0 home draw with Cyprus in September and have now gone three games without finding the net. With nothing left to play for but pride, Nicolato is expected to pack the midfield and hope to frustrate Montenegro, but their lack of cutting edge means a single goal could be enough to beat them.

Head-to-head history heavily favours the hosts: Montenegro are unbeaten in all four previous meetings with Latvia (two wins, two draws), including a 2-0 Nations League home win in 2020 and the 2-1 success in Podgorica during the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. European odds reflect that dominance, with Montenegro priced as short as 1.33 to win, the draw at 5.25 and Latvia a distant 11.00, while a Montenegro win to nil is available at 1.72, Over 2.5 goals at 1.62 and Both Teams to Score - No at 1.60. The tactical picture is straightforward: Montenegro will dominate possession through Adžić and Janković, use the width of Roganović and Vešović to stretch a deep Latvian block, and feed Krstović and Osmajić early. Latvia's only route to a result is a set-piece or a rare counter through Gutkovskis, but a defence that has conceded in every away game this campaign is unlikely to withstand 90 minutes of pressure. With Maraš's form giving Vučinić another weapon from the bench, the Brave Falcons should cruise to a routine home victory that keeps their promotion destiny in their own hands. Our prediction: Montenegro 3-0 Latvia, available at an attractive 9.00 in the correct-score market, with Adžić and Krstović both strongly fancied to find the net at odds of 2.40 and 1.85 respectively for an anytime g