Bulgaria vs Montenegro prediction 01.06.2026 | Friendlies match
Bulgaria
Kick off:
Date:
Montenegro
1
2.96
X
3.30
2
2.63
Contents
- Competition: Friendlies
- Date: 1st June 2026
- Kick-off: 17:00 UK / 18:00 CEST
- Venue: Hristo Botev Stadium
Bulgaria and Montenegro meet in Plovdiv on Monday afternoon, and both are still sitting with the disappointment of World Cup qualifying campaigns that never quite clicked. The Brave Falcons arguably came closer to staying in the race, which maybe makes the frustration sharper in hindsight. Friendlies can feel flat at times, almost like background noise. However, this one does not quite look like that. With the Nations League coming in September, both camps have points to prove, so Hristo Botev Stadium should still carry a competitive edge.
Bulgaria vs Montenegro Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
Montenegro
2 : 1
Bulgaria
Euro Qualification
-
Bulgaria
0 : 1
Montenegro
Euro Qualification
-
Montenegro
0 : 0
Bulgaria
Euro Qualification
-
Bulgaria
1 : 1
Montenegro
Euro Qualification
-
Montenegro
1 : 1
Bulgaria
Euro Qualification
-
Bulgaria
0 : 1
Montenegro
Euro Qualification
Bulgaria and Montenegro have met 10 times since 2008, and the rivalry has been remarkably balanced. The Brave Falcons hold a slight advantage with three victories, while the Lions have won twice. Five encounters ended level, which perhaps tells the bigger story. Goals have generally not been in short supply either, with matches averaging 2.7 goals across those meetings.
Bulgaria team overview
Bulgaria’s qualifying campaign was, frankly, one most supporters will not look back on with much fondness. The Lions opened with five straight defeats and often appeared exposed at both ends of the pitch. Defensive problems were particularly hard to ignore. In four of those losses, Bulgaria conceded at least three goals, which says a lot about the challenges Dimitrov’s side faced. At the other end, chances were limited and goals arrived far too rarely.
Still, the campaign did not finish without a hint of encouragement. Aleksandar Dimitrov’s men signed off with a 2-1 win over Georgia. Qualification was already out of reach by then, of course, but ending on a positive result mattered. It gave the squad something tangible to carry forward.
Home friendlies have also shown modest signs of progress. The Lions drew 2-2 with Cyprus and then edged Tanzania 1-0. Those results suggest greater stability in front of home support. Captain Kiril Despodov remains the key figure, while Vladimir Nikolov is expected to spearhead the attack after scoring twice during qualifying.
Last matches of Bulgaria
-
Indonesia
0 : 1
Bulgaria
Friendly International
-
Solomon Islands
2 : 10
Bulgaria
Friendly International
-
Bulgaria
2 : 1
Georgia
WC Qualification Europe
-
Turkey
2 : 0
Bulgaria
WC Qualification Europe
-
Spain
4 : 0
Bulgaria
WC Qualification Europe
Bulgaria lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Dimitar Mitov
Defenders
-
6
Viktor Popov
-
15
Petko Hristov
-
5
Kristian Dimitrov
-
22
Dimitar Velkovski
Midfielders
-
4
Ilia Gruev
-
14
Filip Krastev
-
8
Andrian Kraev
Forwards
-
11
Kiril Despodov
-
7
Georgi Rusev
-
9
Vladimir Nikolov
Montenegro team overview
Montenegro’s qualifying campaign ended with that familiar feeling of “so close, yet not quite.” The Brave Falcons were right on the edge of the playoffs and knew the equation in the final match was simple enough. Beat the opponent, and they were in. After racing into a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes, you almost start thinking it is done. Almost.
Then everything drifted. Mirko Vučinić’s side lost control, conceded three, and the playoff spot slipped away in a way that still feels hard to fully explain. That kind of collapse tends to linger in conversations back home.
Since then, results have been a bit uneven. A tidy 2-0 win over Andorra showed control, though a narrow 3-2 loss to Slovenia in March reminded you this team is still inconsistent. Still, three wins in five suggests some stability.
At the back, Stefan Savić quietly holds things together, and without him the structure looks far less secure.
Last matches of Montenegro
-
Montenegro
2 : 3
Slovenia
Friendly International
-
Montenegro
2 : 0
Andorra
Friendly International
-
Montenegro
2 : 3
Croatia
WC Qualification Europe
-
Gibraltar
1 : 2
Montenegro
WC Qualification Europe
-
Montenegro
2 : 1
Liechtenstein
Friendly International
Montenegro lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Igor Nikić
Defenders
-
23
Adam Marušić
-
15
Stefan Savić
-
5
Igor Vujačić
-
3
Risto Radunović
Midfielders
-
7
Marko Vešović
-
8
Marko Janković
-
19
Stefan Lončar
Forwards
-
24
Sead Hakšabanović
-
11
Nikola Krstović
-
20
Milutin Osmajić
Prediction
Montenegro look slightly better placed going into this friendly, even though playing in Plovdiv gives Bulgaria a real chance. The Lions have been leaking goals far too easily, something that still lingers after a poor qualifying run. The Brave Falcons are not flawless either, but there is a bit more balance across their squad. Bulgaria should get chances, yet Montenegro’s experience and sharper attack might edge a tight 2-1 win.
Four reasons we expect over 2.5 goals
- Bulgaria are without a clean sheet in their last eleven matches.
- Montenegro finished only one of their last 10 games without conceding.
- Six of the last seven games of Montenegro produced over 2.5 goals.
- Nine of the last ten games of Bulgaria produced three or more goals.
Main prediction Bulgaria - Montenegro
Over 2.5 goals
Best Odds:
22bet
2.37
