Croatia vs Montenegro: Match Prediction Preview, Lineups, H2h for September 9, 2025

On Monday, Croatia will face Montenegro in a match for the 6th round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. This clash offers betting opportunities with favorable odds.

Match Preview

Croatia continues to establish itself as one of Europe’s top national teams. Led by Zlatko Dalić, they have secured five consecutive qualifier victories, demonstrating a strong defense and a powerful attack. They have allowed only one goal in this campaign, showcasing their defensive strength, while consistently creating multiple scoring chances per match.

Playing at home, Croatia has an impressive record: nine wins in their last eleven World Cup qualifying matches. This dominant performance tends to intimidate opponents. Even against teams that defend heavily, Croatia finds ways to score, thanks to their experienced players. The home crowd in Zagreb will add pressure on Montenegro.

Conversely, Montenegro is facing challenges with their consistency. They have suffered two consecutive defeats to the Czech Republic, both by 0-2. This highlights their struggles in both attacking and defensive play. In five of their last seven qualifiers, they have conceded at least two goals.

Montenegro’s away performance has also been disappointing, with three losses in their last four games on the road. Their only victory came against Gibraltar. While they rely on individual players like Stevan Jovetić for leadership, this may not be sufficient against a strong team like Croatia.

Probable Lineups

• Croatia: Livaković; Sosa, Ćaleta-Car, Pongračić; Jakić, Sučić, Pašalić, Fruk, Kramarić; Budimir
• Montenegro: Petković; Vujačić, Savić, M. Vukčević, A. Vukčević; Bulatović, Janković, Brnović, Jovetić, Vukotić; Krstović

Match Facts and Head-to-Head

• Croatia is unbeaten in 11 consecutive World Cup qualifiers (9 wins, 2 draws).
• Montenegro has lost 3 of their last 4 away qualifying matches.
• In 6 of their previous 7 away games, Montenegro conceded first.

Prediction

Croatia boasts a solid defense along with a prolific offense. Dalić’s side is nearly unbeatable at home and often scores at least twice. In contrast, Montenegro exhibits instability and defensive vulnerabilities, especially in away matches. Therefore, a bet on “Croatia to win with a -1.5 handicap” at odds of 1.75 seems favorable given the differences in quality and current form of both teams.