Montenegro W vs Portugal W

Montenegro's 4-0 run from 21-23 down in the third set was the decisive sequence of the match. Trailing 2-1 in sets would have left Montenegro facing a must-win fourth set against a Portugal side growing in confidence. Instead, the momentum from that surge carried through the rotation-heavy fourth set and gave Caković's side the belief to dominate the decider.

Nikoleta Perović was the standout player, scoring a match-high 22 points across four sets. She was the most efficient attacker on the court and the focal point of Montenegro's offence.

Simona Petranović contributed 21 points, including the crucial spike that sealed the third-set turnaround. Her persistence at the net and strong defensive work were instrumental.

Milica Velicković, starting in place of the ill Melisa Cenović, delivered an excellent all-round performance in her extended minutes, justifying Caković's faith in the young roster.

Mina Dragović (9 points), Saška Đurović (7), and Teodora Čavić, Lara Jovović, Lana Rakočević and Darja Popović (6 each) all contributed as Caković rotated freely across the five sets.

Player of the match: Nikoleta Perović — 22 points, consistent attacking output across four sets.

The set scores tell the story of two teams with contrasting spells of dominance. Montenegro's lopsided 25-17 second set (+8 point differential) and controlled 25-18 fifth set contrast with Portugal's narrow 25-22 and 25-23 set wins. Montenegro won three of five sets but took the high-pressure moments — the third-set comeback from 23-21 down and the decisive fifth set played to 25 — demonstrating greater composure when it mattered most. Caković used his full squad across the five sets, deliberately testing depth ahead of EuroVolley.

Montenegro finished their preparation phase unbeaten in official friendly matches, having also defeated Austria and won all closed-door practice matches against both Portugal and Austria, dropping only three sets in total across all fixtures. The squad trains in Kolašin until Monday 18 August before travelling to Gothenburg for EuroVolley 2026 (21 August – 6 September), where they face Sweden, Italy, France, Slovakia and Croatia in Group D.

Portugal also used the match as a final EuroVolley warm-up and showed competitive form — pushing Montenegro to five sets after losing the early initiative — ahead of their own Group D campaign.

A valuable five-set workout for both sides, but Montenegro's ability to win the pivotal moments — the third-set rescue and the extended fifth set — marks them as a side peaking at the right time. Perović and Petranović form a formidable attacking duo, and the squad depth Caković tested will be crucial in the group stage. Portugal have positives to build on but will need to convert strong starts into set victories when the tournament begins.