Montenegro and Denmark Battle It Out for Second Place

UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group E looks to be in control for Poland and they will still fancy their chances of claiming an automatic place in Russia.

Poland currently lead the group with 19 points from their 8 games played, with Montenegro in second place on 16 points and Denmark in third place also on 16 points. With an identical goal difference, the only thing which separates the teams is Montenegro’s win over Denmark earlier in the group.

With the Poles facing Armenia, a game they are expected to win, second place is the realistic aim for both these teams and a win in this match will go a long way to securing that position and a place in the playoff round.

Montenegro welcome Denmark to the City Stadium in Podgorica on the back of three straight wins in Group E.  The hosts have won five, drawn one and lost two games in the group.  The defeat at home to Poland was not great but the loss in Armenia is what has hurt Montenegro’s chances of top spot.

Trends show Montenegro have had a mixed run of results at home in competitive games and while they have won their last two in this group, against Armenia and Romania, they have won only four of their last eight, with the additional wins coming over Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein.

Montenegro have scored at least once in seven of their last eight competitive home matches.

Denmark travel to Montenegro in good spirits having handed group leaders Poland a 4-0 thrashing at home and then scoring 4 goals again in the 4-1 win at Armenia last time out.

The Danes appeared to be out of the running for a place at the 2018 World Cup finals following a run of results which saw a defeat in Poland, a loss at home to Montenegro and a draw in Romania.

Since that draw in Romania, trends show Denmark have won their last three games in Group E, with a win in Kazakhstan plus the victories over Poland and Armenia.  Away from home, Denmark are unbeaten in their last three competitive games, with one draw and two wins.  Prior to the draw in Romania, the Danes also picked up a 1-1 draw in Czech Republic.

Montenegro will be without suspended Dynamo Moscow striker Fatos Beciraj and experienced forward Marko Vucinic who has been left out of the squad because he is currently without a club.  Therefore, the goal scoring duties will fall on the shoulders of Stevan Jovetic.

Denmark have no suspensions to worry about and are likely to remain unchanged following their two excellent wins last time out.  Christian Eriksen will pull the strings from midfield with Andreas Cornelius hoping to start up-front.

Trends show Denmark have managed just two wins from their last twelve away games and the victory, in what is going to be a hot atmosphere, could be out of reach.  However, recent results suggest they could get a point, all be it in a low scoring draw.