Jadran and Primorac Clash in Crucial Bokeljski Derby Tonight

The first *bokeljski derby* of the season takes place tonight at 20:00 at Škver, where Jadran MTEL will host Primorac in the sixth round of the Premier Regional Water Polo League. Novljani currently hold an edge over their rivals, boasting one victory and a point more in the standings. Just three days ago, they secured a vital win against Novi Beograd in the Champions League, finishing the match 12-11. This success marked a strong comeback for coach Vladimir Gojković‘s team following a setback against Šabac, where they lost 12-10 in regional competition.

High Stakes for Both Teams

Tonight’s match is critical for both teams, with each aiming to solidify their position among the top contenders in the league. Strahinja Gojković, a key player for Jadran, emphasized the importance of the game, stating, “We expect it to be very tough. We want the three points to secure our place among the top four teams in the table.”

The atmosphere promises to be electric, especially with Stefan Vidović, a former Jadran player and Montenegro national representative, now representing Primorac. This will be his first appearance on the opposing side in a *bokeljski derby*. Vidović expressed his excitement: “The bokeljski derby is one of the most enjoyable matches to play in; I am pleased to be part of it again.”

Jadran has recorded four wins in the Premier League, two of which came after penalty shootouts. Despite their strong performance, a recent loss to Šabac allowed the western Serbian team to leapfrog them in the standings. Currently, Jadran sits in third place, tied on points with Radnički.

Gojković acknowledged the team’s need to improve, stating, “We stumbled against Šabac in the last round, and such mistakes cannot happen again. I call on all our supporters to come and cheer us on.”

Primorac’s Challenges Ahead

On the other hand, Primorac enters the derby facing challenges of their own, having lost three consecutive matches. In the Champions League, they fell to Oradea with a score of 14-7 and to Ferencváros at 26-15. Additionally, they suffered a defeat against Radnički in the Premier League, losing 13-7. They currently trail Jadran and Radnički by one point.

Vidović noted the tough stretch of away games Primorac is facing, mentioning, “We have a series of challenging away matches ahead, as we will play Brescia in Italy after this game. Jadran is performing very well this season, having defeated several strong teams, so we expect an exceptionally tough match. We have tried to prepare as best as we can for the derby and hope for a favorable result.”

As the excitement builds for this highly anticipated encounter, fans and players alike are ready for a showdown that promises to deliver intense action and fierce competition.

In another fixture, Budućnost, the third Montenegrin representative in the Premier Regional League, will host Partizan tomorrow at 18:00.