FK Partizan - Augsburg 1:3 (UEFA Europa League)

It’s just fucking hard now.
I can’t find the words. It just doesn’t work. Even if I deliberately slept it over.
What the hell could one say about it?...
The qualifying to the 1/16 final was in an arm’s length away. We were just an arm’s length away from Europe... and we couldn’t.
It was told before the match, the Germans need a 3:1 victory to qualify. For us even a 0:0 draw would have been enough.
And what was the result of this game?... 3:1 to Augsburg.
If I was about to make conspiracy theories, I’d say, the goddamned UEFA by default didn’t want Partizan to qualify, that’s why they sent here this lousy, cat-eater Italian, who refereed the game as it must have never been refereed. It was clear, even from distance that he hated to be there, he hated Partizan and wished to be as far from here as possible.

German fans set the tribune on fire before the game...

(photo: Twitter)

...Grave Diggers’ answer was this...

(photo: hotsport.rs)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

...and this

(photo: Twitter)

Partizan’s water polo team were on the tribune, they came to support the football players

(photo: waterpolopartizan.rs)

The start of the game

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Partizan’s starting 11

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

You can see, Saša Ilić was not in the starting eleven.
Saša Ilić stayed on the bench for the entire game, he didn’t play even for a minute.
This wasn’t the only hair-raising anomaly in this match though.
We attacked right in the first minute. Andrija Živković crossed from the right, the goalkeeper caught it. Augsburg had a counter-attack, a player had a distant shot to our goal, it was way too high.
We were still in the 2nd minute, Andrija Živković got the ball on the right side. He made a row of fantastic dribbles, but the defenders kicked him on the ground. Free kick, from the line of the penalty area. Defenders headed it out, corner-kick.
In the 7th minute Bobadilla had a sudden, distant shot to our goal, but it was too high.
Then in the 11th minute Aboubakar got a fantastic pass. He ran up all alone, then shot and scored a giant goal. A-BOOM-bakar!!! 1:0!!! WE ARE LEADING!!!!

(photos: hotsport.rs)

This goal made Augsburg collapse. Even though they had two attempts after this, one in the 17th, the other in the 21st minute, but both avoided our goal. (First Stafylidis had a too high shot, then Trochowski attempted, but a leg appeared out of the blue and touched the ball, making the shot too wide.)
Then came the referee.
In the 22nd minute he whistled off a non-existing foul. Ninković tackled the German player arriving on the right. Džigi made it absolutely perfectly, even the slow motion replay confirmed it, but the referee ruthlessly gave a free kick to Augsburg. Our defenders headed it downfield, Andrija Živković could run up with an amazing dribble, just he gave himself a way too long pass.
Two minutes later Aboubakar sent a great cross from the right. Brašanac headed it to the goal, the goalkeeper saved. A minute later again Aboubakar passed the ball, now to Andrija Živković. Žile ran up, dribbled, then shot, the goalkeeper saved this one, too. Another minute later Brašanac headed upfield in the middle, crossed to Andrija Živković. Živković shot, it ended with a corner-kick.
In the 32nd minute Stafylidis had again a weak attempt, then almost immediately Janker brutally kicked Subić to the ground inside our penalty area. Subić was laying on the ground for long, finally he could stand up and continue playing - the referee didn’t whistle, there was no yellow card or any other retortion.
In the 34th minute again Stafylidis crossed from the right. It was very dangerous, Callsen-Bracker jumped up for the ball, Živko Živković had a great save.
In the 37th minute Callsen-Bracker fell on the ground after Ninković invalidated him. The German played "the dying swan", it took long minutes while the medicals picked his pieces together and carried him off the field. The game was on halt

by the way, the referee’s duty would be here to send everyone off the field, injured as well as medicals to continue giving assistance near the sideline, out of the field, so that teams can continue the game, wouldn’t it?

Then Partizan played defensive for quite a while. We were at the very end of the first half, playing the minutes of extra time, when the referee again stepped out of the dark. He gave a yellow card to Andrija Živković for a non-existing foul

he and Bandalovski were wrestling with an Augsburg-player at the sideline, then the guest player fell on the ground, the referee whistled it off, but I swear, my impression was that this rotten cat-eater guido was deliberately seeking for the chance to kill Živković

as well as a free kick for the Germans. The kick was headed to our net by Hong - it looked as if the ball dropped even on Živko Živković’s hand, but there was a too big goalmouth scramble, I’m not sure if I could see it clearly. 1:1

Živko Živković’s desperate face as he watches the ball dropping into the net

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The second half started with a German attempt. Trochowski shot, luckily a foot touched the ball, so it could avoid our net (it would have been most probably another goal otherwise). Thankfully the referee didn’t notice the foot, which almost surely belonged to a Partizan-player and whistled for goal-kick.
In the 50th minute Andrija Živković ran upfield and passed to Aboubakar. The Cameroonian dribbled, then he was kicked to the ground. (No, the referee didn’t whistle.)
A minute later it was 1:2.
I swear on anything that it was from offside, but there was no flag up. A very long pass came from deep, Dutch player Verhaegh jumped out and scored. (You can watch it here, if you have the heart for it.)
In the 52nd minute we got a free kick at the corner of Augsburg’s penalty area. Andrija Živković shot, the goalkeeper saved.
In the 56th minute Bobadilla crossed to the other side of our penalty area, to Ji. The Korean headed it to our goal line, Živko Živković saved. A minute later Aboubakar sent a big pass to Brašanac. Brašanac ran up, made a huge solo, fought himself through the defenders, then shot, the goalkeeper saved it. In the 60th minute again Aboubakar got the ball and passed to Ninković. Ninković ran up, dribbled, shot, it was too wide.

My nerves were wrecked way before the game. At this point I was in a catatonia, laying on the floor. I didn’t even have the strength to cry for a defibrillator. And the end was still way too far.

In the 61st minute Trochowski had a sudden, distant shot, Živko Živković had a great save.

Why does Živković have to stay on the bench?... Don’t take me wrong, I have nothing against Kljajić, he is skilled and talented, but Živković have these cat-alike reflexes. Just because someone had this idea that he made too many mistakes earlier?... Well, ladies and gentlemen, it is always the easiest to blame the goalkeeper for lost games. Kljajić is a great player, but he may need a bit more time to mature...

In the 69th minute a cross came from the left, Živko Živković caught it.
In the 71st minute we got a free kick, from about 25 metres. Andrija Živković shot, Ćirković headed it to the goal, it was a great movement, but the referee whistled it off, for him it was offside.
In the 73rd minute Ninković sent a distant, amazing cannon shot to the goal. The ball hit the crossbar and dropped to Andrija Živković. Živković shot, it was too wide.
In the 77th minute Živko Živković had a GIANT save with his leg (!!!). Earlier a Partizan-player was kicked to the ground again, the referee didn’t whistle again, even though our player stayed laying on the field. Brazilian player Caiuby ran up and shot, Živko Živković saved not just the goal line, but also fans from another heart attack.

We had quite a few of them during the game...

In the 79th minute we played "pinball football" on Augsburg’s half, passing the ball very quickly among each other, finally the ball dropped to Ninković. Ninković ran up on the left side, dribbled and shot, just barely missing the goal.
And here the referee sent off Andrija Živković.
The reason was simple, Žile touched the ball with his hand, and he already had a yellow card. He had to leave the field.

You rotten mafioso idiot referee, I hope you’re satisfied that you could turn off Partizan’s best player...

After this Andrija Živković was watching the game standing at the tunnel

(photo: mondo.rs)

In the 88th minute Brašanac got a fantastic pass. He run up all alone in the middle, shot, it was too high.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The 89th minute brought the coup de grace.
Augsburg attacked, with the usual goalmouth scramble. Suddenly Caiuby headed the ball to Bobadilla. The Paraguayan had nothing else to do than walk into the net with it. He did so. 1:3
That was the end.
End of the game, end of all hopes.

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Here is a video about the moments right after the final whistle. It says more than any words.

I won’t put any video highlights here. Sorry. On one hand UEFA blocked all videos, as usual, on the other I just have no heart for that. If you want to see it, you can search for it, you’ll surely find it uploaded, if not else, then the goals.

Here I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate Lazar Marković and Petar Škuletić that their teams (Fenerbahce and Lokomotiv Moscow) qualified to the 1/16 final of the Europa League. An extra high five to Markec for his fantastic goal.

After the game hell broke loose. Head coach Ljubinko Drulović plain and simply didn’t go to the post-match press conference. A few journalists could catch him as he tried to sneak out - he said something to them that he had a very important discussion with Iliev, that’s why he didn’t take part at the conference, then he disappeared.

WTF?... How?... And why?... It’s just impossible that the head coach deliberately misses out the press conference. No matter how many goals we get, no matter how deep is the shit we are in, the head coach must stand out and talk to the press. Responsibility, my ass...

After this even crazier rumours started to circulate. B92 talked about the entire Partizan-presidency resigning after the match. Though they added, these news are not confirmed. Unfortunately they are still not.

Rumours speak about raging Partizan-fans surrounding the club’s headquarters, demanding the resigning of the leadership. Press says the presidency collapsed for this heavy pressure and resigned. It smells a bit like Njuz.net, but if it really happens so, I’ll celebrate with champagne.

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 20 000
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (assistants: Alessandro Giallatini, Matteo Passeri - 4th assistant: Filippo Melli - goal line assistants: Marco Guida, Andrea Gervasoni) - ITA

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Ćirković, Fabricio, Subić (Petrović, 64.) - Brašanac - A. Živković, Babović, Jevtović, Ninković (Grbić, 83.) - Aboubakar
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

FC Augsburg: Hitz - Verhaegh, Janker, Callsen-Bracker (Hong, 40.), Stafylidis (Max, 80.) - Koo (Caiuby, 60.), Baier, Trochowski, Ji - Bobadilla, Matavz
Head coach: Markus Weinzierl

Goal scorers: Aboubakar (11.), Hong (45+1.), Verhaegh (51.), Bobadilla (89.)
Yellow card: Ninković (36.), A. Živković (45+1), Bobadilla (90.)
Red card: A. Živković (80. - second yellow card)

FK Partizan - Athletic Bilbao 0:2 (UEFA Europa League)

Again a game that we surely won't put to the display window, and not just because we were defeated.

This banner was still on top. "France loves Partizan". Thank you, brothers in arms

Our starting 11

Group hug before start

At the beginning the two teams were just "sampling" each other. Nothing much happened for about 8 minutes (except for Bojinov being kicked to the ground by a Basque player in the 5th minute), then in the 8th minute came a dangerous Bilbao-attack from the left side. Fabricio saved big, heading the ball out of the goalmouth.
After this we were back to the not too decisive, rather cautious ball-passing. Basques possessed the ball more, but they seemed as if they don't know what to do with it. Meanwhile we started to get stuck in our half.
In the 16th minute a weak pass arrived from the right, it flew away through the goalmouth. Fabricio headed it out.

Fabricio was the hero of the day, the Brazilian was in top form.

Then in the 18th minute Bilbao got a corner kick. Benat shot it to the goalmouth, someone headed it to the goal, Živko Živković had a great save.

I don’t even know how many goal attempts Živko Živković saved tonight. His hands should be engilded right now, and his gloves must be put on display. Available to see only for groups, for a certain admission charge.

The match went on in its rather slow pace. Bilbao-players were passing to each other, while we built a brickwall around our penalty area.
In the 24th minute Williams passed the ball to the side to Aduriz. Aduriz sent it back to Williams, finally Partizan-defenders kicked it out. Two minutes later Basques got a free kick, 22 metres from our goal line, on the left. Benat stood behind the ball, he shot, Živko Živković saved.
In the 30th minute Williams played the same trick as in the 24th minute with Aduriz. He kicked the ball to the left side, got it back, then passed it to Aduriz (mentioned above) in the middle. Aduriz headed it to our goal line, but it was too high.
In the 32nd minute Bilbao scored their first goal. They ran up on the right, Aduriz possessed the ball, he passed it to the middle, Raúl García headed it into our net. 0:1
In the 35th minute Aduriz got a pass from the distance. The assistant didn’t wave for offside, the striker ran up with two Partizan-defenders around him. They both tried to inactivate Aduriz, but despite their efforts Aduriz shot. Živko Živković again had a fantastic save.
Then in the 39th minute we could break out of the bunker a bit. Fabricio and Stevanović passed the ball to each other, tricking around Bilbao-players, then Stevanović ran up and passed the ball to the middle - the only problem was that Bojinov, who arrived in the middle, kicked into the ankle of a Bilbao-player instead of the ball.

Average Fan went out to the kitchen and started to cry.

There was one action left for the 42nd minute. Andrija Živković got the ball on the right, he dribbled a bit and shot from the penalty area line. It was too high.

Andrija Živković, here wrestling with Benat

KK Partizan’s players were watching the game from the tribune

I have no prejudices, I hate everyone. Except for Partizan

In the second half, at the 50th minute we almost scored an own goal. Raúl García got the ball a few metres from our goal line. Fabricio interrupted, kicking the ball out of the field. It flew out just a few centimetres from the goalpost.
In the 54th minute we got a free kick, about 30 metres from the goal line. Fabricio stood behind the ball, he shot, barely missing the opponent’s goal (it seemed as it slightly hit the goalpost). Three minutes later Benat got the ball in the middle. He shot from 18 metres, Živko Živković presented the Saving of the Day.
The pace was slow, nothing else happened on the field. Basque players didn’t seem to have any wish to speed things up, while we were just there... Oh, and the referee also didn’t seem to be on the top. There was one action in the 69th minute, Bilbao got a free kick, shot by Benat from 17 metres, on the left side. It was dangerous, Živko Živković again had a great save.
At this point the match totally slowed down. Nothing ever happened for 10 massive minutes. Finally in the 79th minute substitute player Grbić got the ball from Petrović. Grbić ran up to the penalty area, kicked the ball back to Petrović, Petrović shot it to the middle, but nobody could run up fast enough to catch it. Basque players immediately had a counter-attack, Williams shot, missing our goal only with millimetres.
In the 83rd minute Ninković got the ball on the left. He dribbled at the penalty area line then shot, it was too high.

Two minutes later Bilbao scored their second goal. They got a free kick about 25 metres from our goal line. Benat stood behind the ball and kicked it into our net with a classic movement. 0:2
Our one and only real attempt happened in the 90+3rd minute. After a corner kick Fabricio headed the ball almost from the goal line, but the goalkeeper saved it.

If there’s any video with the match highlights, I’ll post it. Until then you get Grave Diggers.

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 17 000
Referee: Pawel Raczkowski (assistants: Tomasz Listkiewicz, Michal Obukowicz - 4th assistant: Pawel Sokolniczki - goal line assistants: Marcin Borski, Tomasz Kwiatkowski) - POL

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, Ostojić, Fabricio, Leković - A. Živković, Lukić, Petrović, Ninković (Trujić, 84.), Stevanović (Šaponjić, 79.) - Bozsinov (Grbić, 64.)
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Athletic Bilbao: Herrerin - de Marcos, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga - Williams (Boveda, 85.), San José, Raúl García, Benat (Elustondo, 90.), Susaeta (Merino, 55.) - Adruiz
Head coach: Ernesto Valverde

Goal scorers: Raúl García (32.), Benat (85.)
Yellow card: Lukić (62.), Benat (42.), de Marcos (51.), Laporte (53.), Ostojić (84.)

Current standing of Group L:
1. Athletic Bilbao 6 points
2. Partizan 6 points
3. AZ Alkmaar 3 points
4. Augsburg 3 points

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

FC Augsburg - FK Partizan 1:3 (UEFA Europa League, Round 2)

Before I start this match report: high five and hats off to Augsburg for this warm welcome. Fair play at its highest. I very much hope when Germans play in Belgrade, they’ll be received the same cordially.

(photo: Twitter)

The match was a completely surrealistic 90 minutes.

Augsburg attacked in the very first minute. Matavž (if I could see it well...) sent a distant shot to our goal line, Živko Živković saved.
Our answer came in the 2nd minute. Andrija Živković and his distant shot, but it was too high.
The first part of the match was awful. As if we would have gone out to the field without tactics. We passed the ball backwards, barely ever ahead. Augsburg was easy-going, playing football peacefully, we didn’t really interrupt them. In the 13rd minute the Bavarian team’s attack came on the right side, then their player shot the ball to the other side. After a goalmouth scramble the ball dropped to the middle. An Augsburg-player kicked it, but his shot hit a Partizan-defender. Finally it ended in a goal-kick.
A minute later Stevanović ran up with a great solo on the left. He reached Augsburg’s penalty area and shot. Goalkeeper Hitz saved.
In the 15th minute Andrija Živković passed to Babović in the middle, but the goalkeeper interrupted and caught the ball.

As if the entire team would have been put on Andrija Živković’s shoulders again... Every pass, every kick was sent to him.

In the 18th minute again Stevanović ran up with the ball on the left. He passed it to the other side to Aboubakar, but he was tackled.

During the tackle he got injured and had to come off. Bojinov was his substitute.

In the 21st minute Augsburg got a free kick, 17 metres from our goal line. Altintop stood behind the ball, his shot was too high.
Augsburg seemingly didn’t push themselves too much, as for us, we were fumbling, as usual, without any useful ideas.
In the 28th minute Bobadilla was dribbling in the middle and sent a distant shot to our goal. Živko Živković had a great save. Almost immediately came a pass from the left. Matavž headed it, Živko Živković saved it again.
Then in the 31st minute Babović passed the ball to the right to Andrija Živković. Žile ran up and sent a bomb shot from the penalty area line, right into the net. 0:1

In the 36th minute Augsburg got a free kick, 22 metres from the goal. Hong stood behind the ball, he shot, too wide. Two minutes later Augsburg attacked from the left. Altintop headed it to our goal, Živko Živković caught it.
In the 40th minute Feulner kicked a powerful shot from the distance, Živko Živković saved it.
At this point Augsburg put us under constant pressure. They wanted to equalize by all means, they possessed the ball a lot (61:39 was the ball possession ratio). At the very end of the first half they got a corner kick, Partizan defenders headed it out. The ball dropped to Feulner, he shot from the distance, but it was too high.
In the second half Augsburg kept on pressuring us. In the 47th minute a pass arrived from the left, to substitute player Esswein. He shot from 1-2 metres, Živko Živković saved it to corner.
In the 48th minute Bobadilla got the ball in our goalmouth. He was all alone, the assistant did not wave offside, yet the Spanish player started to fumble instead of shooting the ball into the net near Živko Živković, who ran out of the goalmouth. Finally, after long time he decided to shot, but he hit Partizan’s goalkeeper.
In the 53rd minute we got a corner kick, then immediately another. At this second one Ji somehow touched the ball and it got dropped into the net from his foot. Own goal. 0:2
In the 56th minute Bobadilla got the ball. He was again all alone, the assistant again didn’t wave offside. All doors and windows were open, but Bobadilla was just fumbling again, then he was tackled.
Two minutes later it was still him who scored for Augsburg. He got a pass from the left and sent it back to the left to Altintop. Altintop passed it back to him, Bobadilla shot and scored. 1:2
In the 62nd minute Babović kicked an Augsburg-player to the ground. The referee didn’t whistle. Jevtović got the ball, he passed it to Andrija Živković. Živković got it, thanked it, shot and the ball fell into the net. 1:3

Two minutes later Subić got a red card after pushing Esswein to the ground, for which he got his second yellow card. Augsburg got a free kick, 18 metres from our goal line. The shot was headed out by Partizan-defenders, but the German team still possessed the ball. Finally our defenders cleared the area.
In the 70th minute Max sent a shot to our goal after a corner kick, but it was too wide.
The home team put us under heavy pressure, while we played bunker football. In the 74th minute Augsburg got a free kick, 17 metres from our goal line, between the sideline and the penalty area line, on the left. Esswein got the ball, he shot, his attempt ended in a corner kick. The corner kick was headed to our goal by a home team player, Živko Živković saved.
In the 76th minute a pass arrived from the left. Ji headed it to our goal, it was too high. Two minutes later Bobadilla got the ball after a corner-kick. The Spaniard shot, but it was too high. In the 81st minute came another corner kick for Augsburg. Now Ji headed it, Živko Živković saved it.
In the 83rd minute we could break out of the bunker and made it to a corner kick, but Augsburg got bakc the ball and started a counter-attack. Bobadilla got the ball, he ran up, but he was kicked to the ground by Petrović. Free kick for Augsburg, 20 metres from our goal line, on the right. Trochowski got the ball, shot, Živko Živković punched it out.

In the 86th minute Beier got the ball, he shot, but he hit Živko Živković. A minute later Koo got a pass, he shot, the attempt ended in a corner kick.
Their last attempt was in the 89th minute. Trochowski sent a distant shot to our goal line, Živko Živković saved it.

Andrija Živković celebrating with fans

If there’s any video footage, I’ll update the post. Until then send flowers to Vazura and Vučelić and tell them how you love them.

Facts:

Venue: WWK Arena, Augsburg, Germany
Number of spectators: 23 000
Referee: Alexandru Tudor (assistants: Radu Ghinguleac, Vasile Florin Marinescu - 4th assistant: Ovidiu Artene - goal line assistants: Cristian Balaj, Radu Petrescu) - ROM

FC Augsburg: Hitz - Verhaegh, Hong, Callsen-Bracker (Trochowski, 75.), Feulner (Max, 46.) - Baier - Koo, Altintop, Ji - Bobadilla, Matavž (Esswein, 46.)
Head coach: Markus Weinzierl

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, Balažic (Ostojić, 46.), Fabricio, Subić - A. Živković, Babović, Jevtović, Brašanac, Stevanović - Aboubakar (Bojinov, 22., Petrović, 66.)
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorers: A. Živković (31., 62.), Ji (54. - own goal), Bobadilla (58.)
Yellow cards: Jevtović (5.), Callsen-Bracker (16.), Vulićević (41.), Subić (56.), Hong (71.), Bobadilla (90+1.)
Red card: Subić (64.), second yellow card

Current standing of Group L:
1. Partizan 6 points
2. Athletic Bilbao 3 points
3. AZ Alkmaar 3 points
4. FC Augsburg 0 point

(unmarked photos: partizan.rs)

149th eternal derby: Crvena Zvezda - FK Partizan 3:1 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 9)

In a short, laconic style: it was a catastrophe. The match was a catastrophe for us, we played catastrophal, with catastrophal tactics (if we had any tactics at all), and it is very painful to say, but we deserved this defeat.
In the 2nd minute Aboubakar could run up with the ball on the right. He did so, he shot, it was too high.
In the 5th minute Kátai got the ball and sped up towards our goal line. He passed it to the middle, where the ball dropped away in the goalmouth and rolled out of the field through the line, thankfully. A minute later Andrija Živković got a huge pass from Saša Ilić on the right. He shot, the goalkeeper saved it, ending the attempt in a corner.
In the 9th minute Portuguese player Vieira passed the ball to Srnić. Partizan’s defense line got dropped behind (Balažic was laying on the ground after being kicked down). Živko Živković rushed out of the goalmouth and saved.

(photo: partizan.rs)

The game was more or less equal in the first 15 minutes with combative battles, sometimes with exciting, spectacular scenes. Then Partizan started to get stuck into their half, around their penalty area slowly but surely. In the 21st minute Petković got the ball on the right side and shot. The ball rolled away, passing through our goalmouth.
Three minutes later we got a free kick, 30 metres from the goal. The kick arrived inside the penalty area, Aboubakar headed it, right onto the side net.
Then in the 27th minute Zvezda attacked in the middle. Vieira suddenly broke out of the defenders’ ring, left them all behind and shot the ball right into the net next to Živko Živković. 1:0
As for us, we made it to the classic bunker football.
In the 29th minute we got a free kick, 25-30 metres from the goal line, in the middle. Babović stood behind the ball and shot it so high that he surely hit a cloud in the sky.
A minute later Zvezda had free kick time. 25 metres, left side. The ball rolled through our penalty area, through the line, out of the field.

Partizan-fans mocking the home team and their management

(photo: Twitter)

In the 34th minute Kátai got a pass on the right side. He shot it to the middle, where Vieira was waiting for it. Živko Živković saved near the right goalpost, just a few millimetres from the goal line.
In the 36th minute we got a corner kick. Andrija Živković shot, Balažic headed it to the goal, but it was too high.
Meanwhile the bunker got more and more suffocative. We got stuck to our half for long minutes. We could break out only in the 42nd minute, when Stevanović sent a fantastic pass to Aboubakar. The Cameroonian striker ran up, kicked the ball to the middle, where Stefanović was waiting. He shot, but it was way too high.
Finally in the 45th minute, almost at the end of the first half Babović forwarded a pass to Stevanović in the middle. Stevanović got it, thanked it and walked into the net with the ball. GOOOOAAAAAAAL!!!! 1:1!!!

(photo: partizan.rs)

Right in the beginning of the second half Aboubakar got the ball and ran up in the middle. He dribbled himself through the defense line and passed to Stevanović. Stevanović shot, the goalkeeper saved. A minute later Srnić got a pass on the left side. The slow motion replay made it look as if Srnić played a bit of handball before shooting, nevertheless the referee didn’t whistle, and Srnić missed out the chance.
In the 49th minute Vieira got the ball. The Portuguese player shot from 20 metres, all of a sudden.
And he scored. The ball dropped into the net as if it was a ripened pear. 2:1, shock, then wild and loud cursing.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

And it didn’t stop.
55th minute. Kátai gets the ball

or rather someone from Partizan lost it, Kátai just found it

dribbled - he could do it, nobody ever interfered. Then at 16 metres he sent a bomb shot, right into the middle of our net. 3:1

That’s all, folks. We can even go home now...

Fans of the home team made a bonfire. For this the match was halted for a few minutes, thick smoke covered the field.

We used the smoke-pause to consume some water

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

In the 62nd minute Zvezda got a free kick, 25 metres from our goal line, in the middle. Ibánez stood behind the ball, he shot, missed.
No need to attenuate it: these two quick goals had the effect of a cold shower on us. Everyone was nervous, kicking Zvezda-players to the ground. Zvezda took control in their hands, they dictated the pace, they fought, so, in a word, however much it hurts, they were better than us. The next 10 minutes were about us trying desperately to attack, and Zvezda deactivating us.

Maybe Ibánez wanted to take Andrija Živković’s jersey home as a souvenir

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

We were weak, we lacked ideas and as the second half passed by, we got more and more apathetic. Finally in the 72nd minute substitute player Bojinov tried to shake up the team somehow. He shot from 18 metres, the goalkeeper saves with a great movement.
Partizan was struggling and suffering. It was very sad to see, I think you know what I’m talking about.
In the 80th minute Aboubakar got a huge pass from Bojinov. He ran up, all doors and windows were open, Aboubakar shot... and it was too high.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

It was a physical pain to watch this match. Seriously.
Finally, in the 90+2nd minute Leković got a fantastic ball from Ninković, who kicked it across the field. Leković shot, it was too high.
Then it ended.

Grave Diggers during the match. They were much more spectacular than the game

(photos: Twitter)

There are still a lot of burning questions.
I try to be as short as possible.
- What were the tactics the head coach sent the players out to the field with? Have there been any tactics at all?
- What the hell is Babović doing in the team?
- Why did Šaponjić not play at all? Any trainer in the world would give an arm for a player with a quality like him. Here he is molding on the bench, with barely any chance to play.
- What is the reason behind these lot of new players that were brought here recently? Why don’t we put our own players and/or those who worked excellent earlier, but the management either put them on loan or they are used as bench-warmers. Why do Bandalovski, Luka, Ninković, Šaponjić, Bogosavac and the others barely or never get any chance?
- Saša Ilić. I can talk about them only with the highest respect and praise. He can be talked and mentioned only with the highest respect and praise. He is a living legend. Being almost 40 he is still playing at league games. But maybe he too feels that it is soon time to give his place to younger players.

(photo: partizan.rs)

He has all my respect. Really. Whenever I talk about him, I do it with standing in attention, saluting with my hand. But it couldn’t remain unseen at previous games, that Saša Ilić plays it more and more in the pace of a veteran player. Against smaller teams it’s not much a big deal, but at such a game, and especially at European competitions it’s not enough.

- Why is Zoran Milinković still on the bench? Why did he not pack up yet and went back to Voždovac together with his hangers-on?
- Why have the management not left ul. Humska yet and gone to hell, once and for all?
- When will they come back?... :(

At the end, here is the tweet of the day, from Andrija Živković.

Čestitam mojim drugarima i saigračima iz Zvezde na zasluženoj pobedi! Samo ću kratko reći, večeras nije bio moj i naš dan! #derbi #czv #fkp

— Andrija Zivkovic (@JustAndrija) September 12, 2015

"Congratulations to my friends and fellow sportsmen at Zvezda for the well-deserved victory! I’ll be short, tonight was not my day, nor ours!"

That’s what we call fair play.

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Rajko Mitić Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 35 000
Referee: Milorad Mažić (assistants: Milovan Ristić, Dalibor Đurđević - 4th assistant: Nemanja Petrović - goal line assistant: Danilo Grujić, Nenad Đokić)

Crvena Zvezda: Kahriman - Petković (Luković, 86.), Pavićević, Jovanović, Ibánez - Donald, Grujić - Plavšić (Ristić, 74.), Kátai, Srnić - Vieira (Sikimić, 68.)
Head coach: Miodrag Božović

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Vulićević, Balažic, Ćirković, Leković - Babović (Ninković, 86.), Brašanac - A. Živković, S. Ilić (Jevtović, 74.), Stevanović (Bojinov, 64.) - Aboubakar
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorers: Vieira (27., 49.), Stevanović (45.), Kátai (55.)
Yellow cards: A. Živković (33.), S. Ilić (37.), Grujić (37.), Brašanac (52.), Balažic (69.), Leković (77.), Srnić (87.), Pavićević (88.)

League table comes tomorrow, there are quite a few matches from this round left.

Highlights of the transfer market

It’s not that easy.
Monday (31st August) midnight was the deadline of closing the transfer window, and Partizan’s football team was racing with time. On Monday they signed 4 (four) players within 24 hours. The first one was Nikola Leković.  The left back is in fact on loan from Polish team Lechia Gdansk for a year. His shirt number will be No. 3...

...another left back, the former captain of Borac Banja Luka, Aleksandar Subić has signed for 4 years to Partizan. His shirt number will be No. 19...

...16-year-old Đorđe Jovanović, player of Partizan’s youth school has signed his first ever professional contract with the team...

...and finally, in the last minute Partizan signed Swiss-born Serbian national team winger Alen Stevanović, whose number will be No. 91.

Besides it was an open secret that Partizan, but most of all Zoran Milinković had wanted to sign Vojvodina’s midfielder, Mirko Ivanić. The team allegedly offered one and a half million (!) euros for him

where would they have taken that money from?...

but Vojvodina just rose and rose the price, finally at two million euros Partizan backed out of the debate. Though Miloš Vazura keeps on waving his flags that Partizan did not give up signing Vojvodina’s young talent.
The only weird part of it all is that nobody asked Marko Ivanić about it all.

Then there were those who left the team. They are out mostly on loan, but Ivan Petrović permanently left ul. Humska and signed to Borac Čačak. Nenad Marinković is on loan (at FK Voždovac), so is Miroslav Bogosavac (Teleoptik). There are rumours, that Novi Pazar was into getting Predrag Luka on loan, but Luka refused to accept the offer saying he rather fights ahead to get into Partizan’s starting eleven.
GIGARESPECT. This is Partizan-heart.

Upon some nasty rumours not only Predrag Luka but also Petar Grbić refused an offer to get on loan - and both players were allegedly punished by the team management for choosing rather Partizan than wearing another team’s jersey. If this is true, then I wish the entire management, every single one of them to get such a nasty diarrhea, in public, that even the closest toilet would be too far for them.

***

There’s a change in the basketball team as well. Milenko Tepić has left KK Partizan. The player’s contract has expired at the end of the previous season, still he started the preparations with Partizan. Now he has found a new team for himself, and it is not else than Greek team PAOK.
As soon as there is any official announcement, I’ll update the blogpost.

Update: fresh, crusty and official. PAOK announced the signing of Milenko Tepić on Facebook.

O Milenko Tepic στον ΠΑΟΚ... #pamepaok http://www.paokbc.gr/news/news/4441
Posted by PAOK BC / ΚΑΕ ΠAOK on Thursday, September 3, 2015

***

For the end of the post I serve you with the obligatory PR-grin of football players. Audi, being their official sponsor, offered brand new A3 and A4 cars for the players as well as to Zoran Milinković. After the usual commonplaces the players and the head coach were photographed in the company of their new machines.

There’s video about the event as well.

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)