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Kick off: 12 October @17:00 CET
Venue: Otkrytie Arena (Moscow, Russia)
Head to head record
Montenegro vs Russia 0-3 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Russia
Last 5 matches
Russia vs Belarus 4-2 (International friendly)
Russia vs Austria 0-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Russia vs Sweden 1-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Liechtenstein vs Russia 0-7 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Moldova vs Russia 1-2 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Team News
Starting right-back Igor Smolnikov (10/0) suffered a recurrence of his injury in the 2-1 win over Moldova and he has been ruled out of the Montenegro clash, with Roman Shishkin (8/0) called as replacement.
Georgi Schennikov (7/0) had been earlier drafted to replace Yuri Zhirkov (66/1), but Dmitri Kombarov will continue at left-back after impressing few days ago.
Alan Dzagoev and Vasili Berezutski remain injury doubts having failed to join team training, and they look unlikely to be in contention for starting places.
Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Akinfeev – Kuzmin, A. Berezutski, Ignashevich, D. Kombarov – Mamaev, Denisov, Shirokov – Kokorin, Dzyuba, Shatov.
Montenegro
Last 5 matches
Denmark vs Montenegro 2-1 (International friendly)
Sweden vs Montenegro 3-1 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Montenegro vs Liechtenstein 2-0 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Moldova vs Montenegro 0-2 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Montenegro vs Austria 2-3 (Euro 2021 qualifier)
Team News
Star striker Mirko Vucinic (43/17) misses out through suspension, whereas the likes of Stevan Jovetic (39/15), Marko Basa (35/2), Zarko Tomasevic (13/1) and Vukasin Poleksic (36/0) will not be travelling to Russia either.
As a result, coach Branko Brnovic decided to hand a call-up to Drasko Bozovic (2/0) and another four uncapped footballers – Mileta Radulovic, Luka Mirkovic, Risto Radunovic and Aleksandar Sofranac.
Malmo FF midfielder Vladimir Rodic was handed his Montenegro debut at right-back and he looks set to keep his place in the side for the Russia game.
Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Petkovic – Rodic, Savic, Simic, Balic – Marusic, N.S. Vukcevic, Zverotic, Boljevic – Beciraj, Mugosa.
Interesting Facts
*Russia will qualify with any win over Montenegro. Home win 1.92 (23/25) for a half-time/full-time win.
*Montenegro head into the game without five important players. Russia are 1.92 (23/25) for a half-time/full-time win.
*Montenegro conceded 11 goals in 5 matches against top 3 sides in Group G. Russia to score over 2.5 goals is 2.65 (33/20).
