


On Tuesday, July 8, in the first qualifying round of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, Noah will host Budućnost. I’m offering a bet on the total goals scored in this match.
Key facts and head-to-head history
- Noah will be making their historic debut in the Champions League.
- Noah has never previously faced a team from Montenegro.
- Budućnost has only twice progressed beyond the first qualifying round of the Champions League in their history.
- Budućnost has never played against a club from Armenia before.
Match preview
Noah has stormed into the Armenian football elite in remarkable fashion. Founded as recently as 2017, the club rewrote history last season by becoming the first Armenian team ever to reach the main stage of a European competition. Noah qualified for the group phase of the Conference League, put in a respectable performance, but ultimately finished 31st overall.
Last season, Noah claimed their first-ever Armenian championship. The black-and-whites dominated the campaign from start to finish, finishing nine points clear of Ararat-Armenia. This summer, Noah managed to sign several high-profile newcomers, further underlining the club’s rapid development.
In recent years, Budućnost has firmly established themselves as the strongest club in Montenegro. Last season, the team secured their seventh national title. However, Budućnost has never managed any significant success in European competitions.
Budućnost won the previous Montenegrin league with a staggering 24-point gap over their closest rival, OFK Petrovac. However, Budućnost’s squad depth does not allow them to compete outside Montenegro. The team is largely made up of local players who lack significant international experience.
Probable line-ups
- Noah: Ploshadny — Gonçalo Silva, Thorarinsson, Ambartsumyan, Muradyan — Manvelyan, Sangaré — Chinari, Mateus Ayas, Penson, Helder Ferreira
- Budućnost: Mijatović — Serikov, Gašević, Grivić, Orahovac — Miličković, Piščević, Bulatović — Ivanović, Bojović, Kostić
Noah vs Budućnost match prediction
Noah delivered an impressive European campaign last season, and the team’s squad looks stronger than their opponents’. The Armenian side is the clear favorite, and I expect an entertaining, high-scoring contest. My bet: total goals over 2.5.