FK Partizan - Radnički Niš 1:1 (superliga, round 13.)

In the 5th minute Everton tripped over the ball and fell so hard to the ground that he had to come off the pitch.

Kljajić made his first actual movement in the 10th minute, but even then he just had to run out from the goalmouth to catch the ball. That was all the action in the first 15 minutes. Like a low mediocre Hungarian championship game.
In the 16th minute the guests had to substitute, too. Stojanović walked off the pitch limping.
The 17th minute brought the first actual attempt. Leonardo crossed from the left to the goalmouth, but the goalkeeper was quicker than Đurđić.
The 27th minute brought the next action. Đurđević was about to get a pass, but again the goalkeeper was there earlier than him.

It was saddening to see what an idealess football we played. Players were running up and down, all over the field, we possessed the ball, too, but we couldn’t come up with one single useful attempt. The same goes for Radnički as well.

The guests took the lead out of the blue in the 31st minute. They got a free kick about 25 metres from the goal line. Arsić crossed it, Kljajić jumped and saved, but he dropped the ball out of his hands. And before he or any other Partizan-defender could have caught it, Pavkov arrived and pushed it to the box. 0:1
Some attempts could be seen at the end of the half. It was already the 3rd minute of the extra time, when Kljajić saved a cross coming from the right, then Radnički’s defense made a huge mistake, but neither Đurđević, nor Đurđić could take advantage of it.

Stevanović was the player of the day, working hard, taking a huge part of almost all attempts (when we had any)

We quickly equalized at the beginning of the second half. In the 48th minute we got a corner kick, and after a goalmouth scramble Đurđić kicked the ball into the box. 1:1

We made another dangerous attempt in the 61st minute, Radnički’s defenders headed the ball downfield almost from the goal line.

In between nothing much happened, maybe one thing is worth to mention, Radnički played the offside-tactics very well. Not as if we could make it up to their penalty area that often, but whenever it still happened, it was almost immediately flag up and the referee whistled it off. All slow motion replays confirmed the offside every time. It was a hard, struggling second half.

In the 70th minute Đurđević missed out a huge chance. Marjanović crossed from the left, Đurđević headed it, the goalkeeper could barely save it, with fingertips. In the 74th minute a Radnički-player headed it to the box, being all alone, our defenders were behind somewhere, but Kljajić saved. A minute later came the upcoming chance, now for us, but we missed it out... First the ball rolled out missing the box with just centimetres, the attempt ended in corner-kick. Balažic headed the ball to the box, but it was too high. In the 78th minute we got another corner-kick, this time Ostojić headed it, the goalkeeper saved from the goal line.

Enter Saša Ilić: this time was the 792nd time he wore Partizan’s jersey. With this he is the absolute record holder

The last 15 minutes brought a bit more speed to the game, with attempts that were quite dangerous sometimes. In the 84th minute Arsić crossed from the left, Kljajić caught it. Two minutes later Jevtović had a distant shot, the goalkeeper saved. In the 89th minute Pavkov shot, this time onto the side net. In the very same minute Marjanović fell to the ground inside Radnički’s penalty area, but the referee didn’t whistle (there was no slow motion replay afterwards).
At the end Bojinov missed out two attempts (first he was on offside, second he - as usual - shot into the sky instead of the box, from just a few steps), then at the very end we got one last free kick. Ostojić wanted to forward it to the box with his head, but the goalkeeper was quicker.
No applause, no singing by the fans after the match ended, just sparse whistles.

Disappointed players from the bench walking back to the locker-room

Gregor Balažic is not happy

Something’s wrong. No matter how hard Marko Nikolić is trying to bring the team back to life, no matter how many times we win, something is still out of order. We have a minimalist, soulless performance on games, there are no strong or just unique characters among players. Most of them have serious ups and downs in their performance, I could count on one hand how many members of the roster are doing it smooth. The low number of spectators speaks for itself... We may be third on the league table, but the stadium is still empty.

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 3000
Official: Róbert Kis-Csepegi (assistants: - Dejan Petrović, Dejan Potočan -  4th official: Novica Anđelovski)

FK Partizan: Kljajić, Vulićević, Balažic, Ostojić, Miletić, Jevtović, Everton (Marjanović, 12.), A. Stevanović, Leonardo, Đurđić (Bojinov, 68.), Đurđević (S. Ilić, 79.)
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Radnički Niš: Bajić, Bulatović, Stojanović (Mitrović, 17.), Pavkov, Arsić, Petrović, Mrkić (Ignjatović, 85.), Stanojević, Jovanović (Apostolović, 88.), Stanković, Radivojević
Head coach: Milan Rastavac

Goal scorers : Pavkov (31.), Đurđić (48.)
Yellow card: Stanojević (9.), Jevtović (18.), Leonardo (90.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 32 points
2. Vojvodina 29 points
3. Partizan 26 points
4. Napredak 25 points
5. Radnički Niš 24 points
6. Mladost 22 points
7. Spartak Subotica 18 points
8. Rad 18 points
9. Metalac 15 points
10. Radnik 15 points
11. FK Voždovac 14 points
12. Novi Pazar 11 points
13. Javor 11 points
14. Čukarički 10 points
15. OFK Bačka 10 points
16. Borac 9 points

(photos: partizan.rs)

152th eternal derby: FK Partizan - Crvena Zvezda 1:0 (superliga, round 9)

WE WON!!!

What a game it was, unbelievable.

Teams arrive for the start

(photo: partizan.rs)

Partizan's bench

(photo: Facebook/partizan.net)

That's how the Southern Tribune looked outside the stadium

(photo: kurir.rs)

...and that was from the inside

(photo: Facebook/partizan.net)

...and the game hasn't even started...

(photo: partizan.rs)

After the kickoff the two teams started to strangle each other. It was a very heavy start, the first 10 minutes brought a great fight, it was in fact spectacular at some moments. Players went hard on themselves as well as on each other, there were lots of fouls, yelling (with each other and with the referee). The atmosphere was of a true, real football derby.
The first attempt came in the 10th minute. We got a free kick at Zvezda's penalty area line, after Ristić kicked Jevtović to the ground

some complained for penalty kick, but ArenaSport’s slow motion replay made it clear that the foul happened just outside the penalty area. Had Ristić slided in just half a second later, it would have happened inside the penalty area

Leonardo stood behind the ball to do the free kick. He shot, the entire stadium was on their feet shouting "goooal", but finally the ball rolled out of the pitch, missing the box with just half a centimetre.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Zvezda could not reach up to our penalty area. The truth is that our defense line was on top. They blocked the hell out of the opponent. (If Zvezda could get to Partizan’s penalty at all...)

Gregor Balažic was again the axis of the defense line, just like in the good old days

(photo: partizan.rs)

Great battle. That was on the pitch, though with barely any goal attempt. In the 22nd minute Đurđević had a distant shot, the goalkeeper caught it. In the 25th minute it was again Đurđević trying. He shook off the defender constantly hanging on him, then shot from 16 metres, it was just a bit too wide.

Đurđević had a fantastic performance at this derby. But not just him. The entire team brought the best out of themselves.

Đurđević with the defender-in-charge chasing him

(photo: hotsport.rs)

We had another chance in the 27th minute. Leonardo got the ball after a free kick, he forwarded it to Đurđević. Đurđević shot, right onto the side net.
In these minutes Zvezda had to play it defensive. Partizan-players played it brave and combative, they ran a lot, attacked, there was no idle moment at all.
Zvezda could reach our penalty area in the 29th minute, when Kljajić had to interfere for the first time. Srnić had a shot from a sharp right angle, Kljajić pushed it to corner kick.
In the next minutes Zvezda possessed the ball more, another thing is that they could just pass it around in the background. Partizan’s defense line locked up. Zvezda pressed us hard, but they could not force out one single attempt (maybe only piles...). Finally Ruiz shot in the 33rd minute, but the ball hit a defender. Kljajić didn’t even have to make any extra jump or save, the ball fell right into his hands.

Filip Kljajić

(photo: partizan.rs)

Zvezda struggled ahead, with clenched teeth, but they could not break through our defense.
In the meantime fans made a fantastic coreography on the Southern Tribune.

Remembering fellow fans who passed away

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Partizan attacked. We spent much more time around Zvezda’s penalty area than they could reach our half at all. They managed to do it once, in the very last minute of the first half, when Petković shot from 16 metres, but Kljajić saved it easily.

Coreography in the first half

(photo: partizan.rs)

Zvezda tried to speed up for the second half. In the 50th minute Gabonese midfielder Kanga shot from 18 metres after a counter-attack. Kljajić easily saved it.

It’ll be the worst joke ever, but I just have to. Did he leave Baby Roo in the locker-room? I hope though, Winnie The Pooh is a Partizan-fan...

In the 52nd minute Ristić was dribbling on the left side, then crossed to Vieira. The Portuguese shot - and the ball flew out of the stadium. Three minutes later Ruiz wanted to cross to the middle, Srnić was waiting there, but it was flag up.

The slow motion replay made it clear that it wasn’t offside. Srnić was a half step backward compared to the defender. It didn’t matter much anyway, because Srnić shot, but just like Vieira, he kicked the ball out to the tribune.

A minute later the same scene happened at the other side, with Đurđević being offside.
In the 59th minute Stevanović crossed from the right. Đurđević headed it, the ball hit the crossbar. In the 62nd minute Baby Roo Kanga shot again from 18 metres, it was way too wide. The game was very combative, with lots of clenched teeth, not that spectacular as it was earlier, but it brought a lot of fight. Players ran a lot and clashed a lot on both sides. In the 74th minute again Đurđević shot, it was too high.

Enter Saša Ilić, 77th minute

(photo: partizan.rs)

With the arrival of Saša Ilić the pace sped up. We attacked, but we still couldn’t develop an attempt, until the 86th minute. From that moment on Partizan played a dream game.
Leonardo ran up on the left side. He made a big solo, dribbled, finally defenders blocked him. But we didn’t stop for a moment. Zvezda got stuck at their penalty area, while Partizan kept on searching for the gap on Zvezda’s defense line like a tank steam roller. In the 89th minute their defenders wanted to kick the ball downfield. They did so, but the ball dropped right to Saša Ilić. The Captain sent it ahead to Đurđić in the middle. Đurđić headed it ahead to Leonardo. Leonardo made a fantastic, amazing, flying bicycle kick and scored a huge goal right into the middle of the box.

GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!

1:0!!!!

In the 89th minute!!!!!

Leonardo makes the bicycle-kick...

(photo: Facebook/Partizane naš si ponos)

...and it’s celebration time

You scored it! Yes, you

(photos: hotsport.rs)

Those who regularly read this blog know, that I haven’t been the fan of Leonardo, so to speak. But this time the Brazilian was absolutely the best. He scored a fantastic, beautiful, spectacular goal in the 89th minute, settling the final score of the derby as well, and he worked a lot during the entire game, too, running, passing, dribbling, while Zvezda’s players continuously kicked him to the ground. Great job, Leonardo, keep it up!
Also big respect and hats off for Đurđić not just for the great assist, but for working hard for the whole time he was in the game. He too ran a lot and took his part in the attacks. The former ball-phobiac Đurđić was gone, instead we had a brave, combative, dauntless, team player Đurđić on the pitch.
Well done, boys!

Nikola Đurđić

(photo: partizan.rs)

There was one last attack by Zvezda in the 90+2th minute. They ran up for a counter-attack, Kanga forwarded the ball to Ruiz. Kljajić ran out of the goalmouth, Ruiz dribbled him and shot. Half the world watched it breathlessly

Average Fan fell on the floor screaming

but Kljajić ran back and caught the ball with a cat-alike jump.

(photo: partizan.rs)

Then in the 94th minute referee Mažić gave the final whistle to the game.

WE WON!!!!

WE WON!!!!!!!

It was time to celebrate.
They deserved it.
We deserved it.

(photos: partizan.rs)

(photos: hotsport.rs)

(photo: partizan.rs)

SOS Kanal’s 37-minute-highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade

Number of spectators: 25 000

Official: Milorad Mažić (assistants: Milovan Ristić, Dalibor Đurđević - 4th official: Srđan Milutinović - additional assistants: Igor Stoilković, Marko Popović)

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Vulićević, Balažic, Milenković, Miletić - Mihajlović (A. Stevanović, 46.), Everton, Jevtović, Leonardo - Bojinov (Đurđić, 67.), Đurđević (S. Ilić, 77.)

Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Crvena Zvezda: Manojlović - Petković, Le Tallec, Luković, Ristić - Donald, Poletanović, Srnić (Anđelković, 85.), Kanga, Ruiz - Vieira (Plavšić, 70.)

Head coach: Miodrag Božović

Goal scorer: Leonardo (89.)

Yellow card: Ristić (11.), Balažic (17.), Jevtović (23.), Ruiz (30.), Vulićević (83.)

Current championship standings:

1. Vojvodina 23 points

2. CZ 22 points

3. Radnički Niš 17 points

4. FK Partizan 16 points

5. Spartak Subotica 16 points

6. Mladost 15 points

7. Metalac 14 points

8. Napredak 13 points

9. Rad 11 points

10. FK Voždovac 11 points

11. Radnik 9 points

12. Novi Pazar 8 points

13. Javor 8 points

14. OFK Bačka 7 points

15. Čukarički 5 points

16. Borac 5 points

FK Partizan - Čukarički 1:0 (superliga, round 5)

If we see the positive side, we won again.
If we see the less positive side as well: we won with one single goal and minimal fortitude. Players kept running all around, which was probably excellent to show they do have the physical level needed, but the efficiency was again level League 4. Some players STILL play alibi football.
Čukarički tried with a shot on target in the 4th minute, it was Radonjić, if I saw his shirt number well. And that was all the action for a good 15 minutes. We had an attempt in the 17th minute, Đurđić fumbled it away after a goalmouth scrumble, then Balažic shot, but he was blocked.
Čukarički’s goalkeeper had his first work to do in the 24th minute, when Everton wanted to stir things up at their goal, but he didn’t get further from "wanted". (He shot, but the goalkeeper saved.)
Other than this, nothing. Players were running around without actual attempt or combat. Čukarički played bravely, they didn’t switch to defensive football, but none of the teams could make it up to the other’s penalty area.
The 26th minute brought the surprise. Mihajlović crossed a free kick to the goalmouth, Bojinov was right there. Being there he headed the ball to the box, and the ball dropped inside. 1:0

We played with this much effort

(photo: partizan.rs)

Mihajlović missed out a giant chance in the 30th minute. Čukarički’s entire defense line had a momentary lapse of reason, finally one of them saved by sliding into the way in the last minute.
Radović again dissolved into thin air, Đurđić seemed so that he wasn’t even on the pitch. This guy is excellent in hiding away from the ball. He tried to act only once as if he was about to score a goal, some time in the 37th minute, but even then he was offside.
Then nothing happened. So much nothing that the wrestling competition on TV (Olympic Games!) was more exciting than this. At least those athletes were really fighting... While over here there was just a lukewarm-like-footbath, powerless game, typically that kind when the luckier team wins, usually with a suddenly "found" or gift goal.
The second half was not better at all. Lack of ideas, knocking the ball around, boredom.

The thing that totally freaked me out was that everyone kicked the ball just ahead. Nothing else. It’s something even I can do. Please, tell me, can I be in Partizan’s starting 11 next week?...

We could build up an attack in the 63rd minute with blood, sweat and tears. Balažic headed it towards the box, too high. In the 71st minute substitute player Stevanović missed out a "zicer", goalkeeper Petrić had a great save. Not much later Milenković headed the ball after a corner kick, again Petrić saved, possibly even bigger.
The pace sped up maybe for the last 10 minutes, the game became fair.

No, not "good". It wasn't good. It was relatively fair, on the lower side. But at least it wasn't that nerve-rackingly boring.

Čukarički attacked, they tried to grab at least one point, then Partizan also tried to build up more attacks, to make their position fixed. It brought one attempt on both sides, first came in the 85th minute for Partizan, when someone in the goalmouth scramble pushed Balažic’s free kick with head, but Petrić saved it.

I hope he gets for this performace today at least a marble plate in Banovo Brdo.

Then Jovanović headed the ball towards the box in the 90th minute, barely missing it.

Everybody calm the fu*k down, we gained 3 points

(photo: partizan.rs)

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 4126
Official: Srđan Jovanović (assistants: Uroš Stojković, Milan Mihajlović - 4th official: Lazar Lukić)

FK Partizan: Šaranov, Vulićević, Balažic, Milenković, Miletić, Everton, S. Ilić (Brašanac, 48.), Radović, Mihajlović, Đurđić (Stevanović,  68.), Bojinov (Marjanović, 83.)
Vezetőedző: Marko Nikolić

Čukarički: Petrić, Bulatović, Živković, E. Mašović, Piasentin, Tomić, Srnić, Docić (Regan, 46.), Radonjić (Jevtić, 59.), Jovanović, Mandić (A. Mašović, 86.)
Vezetőedző: Milan Lešnjak

Gólszerző: Bojinov (26.)
Sárga lap: Piasentin (13.), E. Masović (22.), Bojinov (35.), Miletić (73.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 13 points
2. Vojvodina 10 points
3. Metalac 10 points
4. Mladost 9 points
5. FK Voždovac 8 points
6. Novi Pazar 7 points
7. Spartak Subotica 7 points
8. FK Partizan 7 points
9. Radnički Niš 7 points
10. Radnik 6 points
11. Rad 6 points
12. Napredak 5 points
13. Javor 5 points
14. Čukarički 4 points
15. Borac 2 points
16. OFK Bačka 1 point

FK Partizan - Vojvodina 1:3 (superliga, round 3)

Marko Nikolić, former and current head coach of Partizan returned to the bench at this game. As a kind of special celebration, Vojvodina put the "cheapest on sale" price tag on the team.
Three goals. That’s how many they scored to us. Just to prevent us from falling into the trap of overconfidence.

What could one expect from a team where the starting eleven includes Valeri "Sloth" Bojinov, Miroslav "Pensioner" Radović, Gregor "Last time I played was 2 centuries ago" Balažic, Alen "Pathetic" Stevanović and Darko "Seriously out of shape" Brašanac?...

The first goal was scored in the 6th minute by Vojvodina. Honestly... It was a top class goal by Dejan Meleg. He tricked the entire Partizan defense line including Bojan Šaranov (the latter one surely didn’t know where was north and south...) then passed the ball above the heads right into the box. Stevanović was standing on the goal line and desperately tried to head it out, but instead he headed it even deeper into the net. 0:1
In the 10th minute Bojinov again, once again missed out a giant chance. All doors and windows were open, and he hit the crossbar from a few metres. If he happened not to miss out attempts, then he either got stuck in offside position every goddamn time, or he was slower than a sloth.
If we happened to attack at all. It happened a few times, and it seemed as if there was a tiny bit more spirit in them than at previous games. Still all these attempts and attacks were unsuccessful. Vojvodina’s goalkeeper was totally jobless, their defense line blocked all our actions.
The 29th minute brought the second goal by Vojvodina. One of them easily tackled Everton, then Paločević shot from the left corner of the penalty area while running past Gogoua, as if Partizan’s defender had been a lamp post, finally he kicked the ball into the box. The ball flew past the falling Šaranov and landed in the bottom right corner. 0:2

Gregor Balažic some time during the game. He was ran off by Vojvodina’s attackers

In the 43rd minute Bojinov missed out the greatest chance of the entire game by attempting from three steps, but the goalkeeper saved right on the goal line.

Vojvodina immediately came up with a counter-attack, Trujić tried, Šaranov saved.

Nikola Trujić and Gogoua. Partizan’s former striker had a great game, he attacked, ran and fought a lot. That person who formerly told that he was "too much" for Partizan, here is a message: may a brutal diarrhea catch you at a public place

In the 51st minute there was a questionable situation, when Brašanac fell on the ground at Vojvodina’s penalty area line. Many complained for penalty, but the referee waved "go ahead".

I found no slow motion replay or analyzing about it. But even if it had been a penalty, it wouldn’t have changed the final result.

We could force the ball into the box in the 63rd minute. (aka we scored) Bojinov got the ball from Vulićević, it was the most unmissable chance of all unmissable chances - though Bojinov had missed out countless chances that were thought to be unmissable. Nevertheless this time he was lucky, because he could head the ball into the box. 1:2
Yet at the upcoming attempt he got stuck in offside position, probably he didn’t want to fall out of shape.
In the 65th minute Radović landed on the ground inside Vojvodina’s penalty area. The referee again waved "go ahead", and he was right. The slow motion replay clearly showed that it was NOT a penalty.
Our attacks were still blocked by Vojvodina defenders, and as a punch line they scored again in the 75th minute. Trifunović was hanging around all alone, he immediately got a cross right there. No flag up, Trifunović ran up leaving behind our entire defense line. Then he dribbled Šaranov, shot and scored. 1:3

At this point I turned a bit lower the volume of the stream and turned on the TV, where the Olympic Games were broadcasted live. There was a table tennis game running, but even that was more exciting than this crap.

For the rest of the game we were fumbling. We didn’t have many attempts, and even those we had were blocked. In the 80th minute I could see disappointed fans slowly starting to leave the stadium... It was like a salvation when the referee whistled off the game.

Scratching your head will not make you score more goals, dude

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Partizan Stadion, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 7000
Official: Milan Ilić (assistants: Oliver Petrović, Miodrag Zdravković - 4th official: Nemanja Petković)

FK Partizan: Šaranov, Vulićević, Gogoua, Balažic, Bogosavac, Everton (Leonardo, 58.), Brašanac, Radović, Mihajlović (S. Ilić, 46.), A. Stevanović (Đurđić, 46.). Bojinov
Head coach: Marko Nikolić

Vojvodina: Kordić, Mićić, Kovačević, Meleg (Zličić, 82.), Puškarić, Paločević (Trifunović, 66.), Babić (Jovančić, 66.), Antić, Malbašić, Miletić, Trujić
Head coach: Nenad Lalatović

Goal scorers: Meleg (6.), Paločević (29.), Bojinov (63.), Trifunović (75.)
Yellow card: Trujić (31.), Everton (35.), Bojinov (41.), Puškarić (41.), Mićić (45.), Antić (48.), Brašanac (50.), Balažic (61.) Bogosavac (74.), S. Ilić (75.), Leonardo (78.), Jovančić (80.), Kovačević (90.)

Current championship standings:
1. CZ 7 points
2. FK Voždovac 7 points
3. Vojvodina 6 points*
4. Radnički Niš 6 points
5. Metalac 6 points
6. Mladost 6 points
7. Javor 5 points
8. Radnik 5 points
9. Spartak Subotica 4 points
10. Novi Pazar 4 points*
11. Napredak 4 points
12. Čukarički 1 point
13. OFK Bačka 1 point
14. FK Partizan 1 point
15. Borac 0 point
16. Rad 0 point

*Vojvodina and Novi Pazar played one game less

(photos: partizan.rs)

Athletic Bilbao - FK Partizan 5:1 (UEFA Europa League)

I start with a short intro, because there has been a turmoil around the football team since the beginning of the week. It accumulated for this half of the week and it definitely had an impact on this brutal meltdown in Bilbao.
It started with Milorad Vučelić heavily criticizing the football players in public for the weak performance. He said, the football players are like a bunch of autists, adding that they are to blame for everything. (You get it, he is the perfect politician, washing his hands, getting rid of responsibility - well, he does have routine.) A day later Ivica Iliev answered Vučelić (in public, of course) with a diplomatic touché, saying that critics are needed, but not in the style of an enraged elephant dashing into a china shop, especially not in the press.
After all these Andrija Živković’s father got fed up (what can I say, it’s totally understandable) and turned the table on Partizan’s management, saying that the current leadership is worse than the Đurić-era

isn’t he right?

and his son will not travel to Bilbao with the team. Živković jr. indeed wasn’t included in that group of players that went to Basque Country, what is more, if rumours are true, meanwhile he signed a five-year contract with Portuguese team Benfica, that is supposed to take effect in January 2016. (Benfica has dismissed these rumours though.)
The team didn’t include Brašanac (injured), Saša Ilić and Leković either.
There was full house in San Mamés stadium, with a very small group of Grave Diggers as well.

The truth is that after the starting whistle Partizan got stuck in their half, or rather, they seemed as if they don't want to get out of there. We got to Bilbao's penalty area some time in the 9th minute. We even got a corner kick, but defenders headed it out.
And... and we stayed on our half.
And we kept on passing the ball backwards.
We didn’t attack. We didn’t tear down the opponent like a roaring lion. As if we just wanted to somehow avoid any kind of confrontation.
We get the punishment for our non-attacking attitude. The Basque team took the lead in the 16th minute. Williams ran up in the middle, passing to Aduriz. Aduriz was wrestling with Subić, Partizan’s defender slid, Aduriz was all alone. He passed to Williams arriving out of the blue. Williams thanked and with a wide grin he kicked the ball into our net. 1:0
We didn’t have to wait too long for the equalizing goal. Right after the kickoff Grbić ran up on the right side and  passed to Aboubakar in the middle. The assistant didn’t wave offside, Aboubakar made a great solo, shot and scored. 1:1

Bilbao took back the lead in the 18th minute.
They attacked on the right side. The ball was sent to the middle, where Jevtović (if I could see it well...) kicked it out of the penalty area, right in front of a Basque player. He kicked it back to his tieammate inside the penalty area. This one dribbled a bit, then kicked the ball to Williams, who again appeared out of nowhere and who kicked the ball to the net, scoring his second goal. 2:1
In the 24th minute Williams again found himself all alone inside our penalty area

this kid was very dangerous, he was like quicksilver, very fast, always finding the ball and especially appearing out of nowhere

arriving from the left side, very fast and invisible. He shot, thankfully it was too high. In the meantime Balažic fell on the ground and he was taken off on a litter. He had so heavy pains that he couldn’t eve stand on his feet.

His ligament got most probably torn. It was just a bad movement while falling to the ground. There’s no info yet about how long his recovery will be.

In the 28th minute we made a counter-attack after a Bilbao-corner. Stevanović ran up on the left and passed to Aboubakar in the middle. Bilbao’s goalkeeper ran out of the goalmouth and kicked the ball back to our half before the Cameroonian player could have reached it.
Three minutes later Stevanović was wrestling for the ball with a player of the home team. Finally Subić got the ball and made an excellent pass to the middle, but Babović, who was arriving there, just missed it.
In the 36th minute Fabricio’s free kick flew out of the field, probably also of the stadium.
In the 39th minute Aduriz attacked all of a sudden. He was taken into a "sandwich" by two Partizan-defenders, then the Basque player fell to the ground, right inside our penalty area. The goalkeeper didn’t appreciate the trick, the home team got only a free kick from 17 metres instead of a penalty. Benat stood behind the ball and with a very cheeky movement he shot the ball in a way that it went almost round the wall, passed by the shocked Kljajić and fell into our net. 3:1
...and they attacked again right after the kickoff, on the right. The ball was passed to the middle, Kljajić had a great save.
The last action happened in the 45+1st minute, again Williams from the right side, passing the ball to the middle, someone headed it to the goal line, Kljajić saved.
In the second half we continued where we finished in the first half. We passed the ball backwards, our attacks - if there were any... - were blocked, or we simply lost the ball. That was what happened in the 51st minute, but then it was Fabricio who lost the ball and it all ended up in a dangerous goal attempt by Bilbao. For our great luck Williams was on offside, the referee whistled it off.
In the 53rd minute Bilbao got a free kick after Williams fell on the ground after clashing with Fabricio (the slow motion replay clearly showed that nothing happened, Williams was acting, but the referee believed him). They were 18 metres from our goal line. Benat kicked, Vulićević blocked it and we could start a counter-attack. Even though Bilbao’s defenders inactivated our attempt, it still almost ended with an own goal. Their defender wanted to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper, but Herrerin was out of the goalmouth, even of the penalty area and he had to do a very heavy sprint to save the ball from rolling through the goal line. (He did, approx. 5 cm before the goal line.)
In the 55th minute Bilbao got another free kick, 25 metres from the goal line, on the right. Benat kicked, Williams got it, even shot from a sharp angle, missing it barely.
Then nothing happened. Bilbao’s players were playing with the ball, we were watching them. We didn’t interfere in their play. Sometimes, very rarely we could touch the ball, but even then we just tried to kick it as far from our goal line as possible. No attack, no ideas, nothing. In the 69th minute Grbić finally got the ball and ran up on the right side. He wanted to pass it to Šaponjić, but Herrerin was faster.
Then in the 71st minute Bilbao got a free kick, 30 metres from our goal line, on the right. Aduriz stood behind the ball, he shot, right into the net. 4:1
From then on Bilbao played a training match with us. That’s the truth. The two teams were two totally different worlds. What is more, in the 81st minute Aduriz got a long pass from the half line, ran up, clashed with Kljajić (Partizan’s goalkeeper stayed on the ground), then passed to Elustondo, who had nothing else to do but walk in to the empty net with the ball. 5:1 Okay, everyone, let’s go home now.
Nothing ever happened in the rest of the game that is worth to mention.

No video highlights yet, because UEFA consists of elbow-sleeved officials who still haven’t uploaded any videos to Youtube about this round.

Facts:

Venue: San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao, Spain

Number of spectators: 40 000

Referee: Michael Koukoulakis (assistants: Alexandros Grevenis, Chrysoula Kourompylia - 4th assistant: Christos Baltas - goal line assistants: Charalambos Kalogeropoulos, Andreas Pappas) - GRE

Athletic Bilbao: Herrerin - Boveda, Etxeita, Laporte, Balenziaga - Benat (Elustondo, 73.), San José - Williams (de Marcos, 63.), García (Eraso, 66.), Susaeta - Aduriz

Head coach: Ernesto Valverde

FK Partizan: Kljajić - Vulićević, Balažic (Ćirković, 26.), Fabricio, Subić - Jevtović - Aboubakar (Šaponjić, 46.), Babović, Lukić, Stevanović (Ninković, 73.) - Grbić

Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Goal scorers: Williams (15.), Aboubakar (17.), Williams (18.), Benat (39.), Aduriz (71.), Elustondo (81.)

Yellow card: Jevtović (49.), Fabricio (53.), Vulićević (55.)

Current standing of Group L:

Athletic Bilbao 9 points

Augsburg 6 points

Partizan 6 points

AZ Alkmaar 3 points

(photos: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

Sinđelić - FK Partizan 0:2 (Serbian Cup, 1/16 final)

The football team played against Serbian First League team Sinđelić in the 1/16 final of the Serbian Cup. No TV channels broadcasted the game

red team was more important for ArenaSport

so I have to rely on the reports of sports sites.
All reports agreed that this match again wouldn’t be put out to the window in ul. Humska, despite our victory.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

The first half could be a very slow, very slumberous one, with the first action coming only in the 35th minute. Šaponjić got a pass from Stevanović and shot, but the goalkeeper saved. Later in the half there was a free kick by Babović as well as an attempt in the last minute by a home team, then the referee put an end to the suffering, at least for a while.

So terrible struggles to go through, for some... They are obliged to visit urban, lower league football fields with original Chanel handbag and fur coat... right, Sneki?

(On the picture you can see Snežana Filipović, Partizan’s so-called marketing manager.)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

For the second half we picked ourselves together and managed to score a goal right in the beginning, in the 48th minute. Šaponjić got a great pass from Stevanović, he thanked it and kicked the ball right into the net. 0:1

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The second goal was scored in the 68th minute. A defender pushed Šaponjić to the ground inside the penalty area, the referee immediately whistled for penalty. Šaponjić stood behind the ball, kicked and scored, just as it’s written in the Book of Rules.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

The rest is better to be forgotten.
There are a few more photos here.

Balažic was in the starting eleven today...

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

...and our goalkeeper was Kljajić this time.

(photo: Facebook/Fudbalski klub Partizan)

At the end Šaponjić was in the middle of attention

(photo: hotsport.rs)

Highlights:

Facts:

Venue: Sinđelić Stadium, Belgrade
Number of spectators: 2000
Referee: Lazar Lukić (assistants: Milan Mihajlović, Vladimir Šegrt - 4th assistant: Igor Stoilković)

Sinđelić: Šćekić, Stanimirović, Malović, Pešić, Radulović (Perišić, 74.), Piščević, Dobrašinović (M. Milenković, 70.), Popadić, Sajćić, Damnjanović (Bulatović, 84.), Zvrko
Head coach: Zoran Mirković

FK Partizan: Kljajić, Bandalovski, Ćirković, Balažic, Leković, Petrović, Lukić (Glavčić, 82.), Babović (Kosović, 76.), Stevanović, Aboubakar (Trujić, 66.), Šaponjić
Head coach: Ljubinko Drulović

Goal scorer: Šaponjić (48., 68. - pen.)
Yellow card: Malović (59.), Radulović (68.), Bulatović (90.), Glavčić (90+3.)

Borac - FK Partizan 1:3 (Jelen SuperLiga, Round 7)

The field of the Čačak stadium got soaky wet after days of heavy raining. It was covered with mud when the players walked out for the match. It was raining even during the game, the slippery grass made it even more difficult for both teams. As an extra, the stadium lights were just glimmering during the evening. At the goal area it was semi-dark.

Warming up

(photo: partizan.rs)

The game started with a minute of silence for the memory of Srđan Jovanović, former referee and president of FSS’s referee committe, who passed away earlier this week.
Then, right after the starting whistle Borac attacked. Their striker ran up on the right side, Bandalovski threw himself into the way. (It was barely a few millimetres that it didn’t end as an own goal. Thankfully it didn’t, Borac got a corner kick.)

Bandalovski wrestling with Knežević

(photo: partizan.rs)

In the 8th minute the home team attacked again. Jovančić shot from 18 metres. Živko Živković performed a great save, then he stayed on the ground holding his waist with a painful face.
In the 10th minute again the home team could run up on the right side.

The left side of our defense line was again like a passage-way. Something must be done, it cannot remain like this for the CL-game on Wednesday.

Knežević ran up all alone and shot. Živko Živković saved with his leg. Then again he stayed on the ground. Now he got medical attendance, what is more, on the screen appeared Filip Kljajić, the substitute goalkeeper as he was warming up. Finally Živko Živković didn’t need any substitution, though he visibly had pain during the match.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the 23rd minute, while Average Fan tried to resurrect the dying stream, we got a free kick about 25-30 metres from the goal line, on the right. Babović stood behind the ball, he shot it inside the penalty area, but defenders cleared it.
In the 30th minute again Borac attacked, again from the right side. They passed the ball to the middle, Živko Živković caught it. Five minutes later Babović got the ball on the left. He headed it to the goal line, but it was too high.
Then in the 38th minute we tried to break Borac’s defense in the middle. The ball dropped from a defender to Trujić, who was standing on the right. For everyone’s surprise Trujić shot, and the ball dropped into the upper left corner of the net like a cannon ball. 0:1

(photo: partizan.rs)

(photo: hotsport.rs)

In the 42nd minute Petrović got a great pass from Saša Ilić on the left. He shot, the ball would have needed just millimetres to get into the net. Borac started a counter-attack, our defense line cleared in the last moment. Corner kick, the ball is shot to the middle, where Mićić jumped up to head it into the net, but it slipped on his bald head. Živko Živković again presented an amazing save.

Match action: Saša Ilić and Trujić

(photo: partizan.rs)

In the second half, in the 49th minute we got a corner kick. Babović shot...
...and Balažic plain and simply headed it into the net. 0:2!!!!
In the 55th minute Saša Ilić passed the ball out to the right side to Trujić. Trujić kicked it back to him, then the Captain shot from 8 metres. Goalkeeper Bajić saved, Borac could ran up for a counter-attack. On the right side

from where else?... Nemanja Petrović, my dear son, have you been just an accessory on the left?...

Tanasin arrived with the ball. The ball dropped out of the line, but neither the referee, nor the assistant bothered about it. Tanasin passed to the middle to his teammate who headed it to our goal line, missing it with just millimetres. We started a counter-counter-attack. Šaponjić got the ball, he ran up in the middle and shot with full power. The goalkeeper made a huge save.
In the 64th minute the home attack came again from the right. Knežević (if I could see well) got the ball and shot immediately. Marko Jevtović selflessly threw himself into the way, making the attempt end as a corner kick. The shot was headed by a Borac-player (Mićić maybe?... I’m not sure, maybe it was his bald head there), but it was too high.
Cardial arrest came in the 69th minute. Our defense line lost the ball, substitute player Đerić grabbed it at once. He attacked our goal all alone, all doors and windows were wide open...
...and Živko Živković made one of the greatest saves of his life with HIS LEG!
In the 71st minute we got a free kick on the right. Babović shot to Trujić, he passed it ahead to Lukić. Lukić got the ball, shot and scored a fantastic goal. 0:3!!!!

(photo: partizan.rs)

We immediately got the answer, practically right after the kickoff. After a wrong pass lost by Partizan-defenders Knežević grabbed the ball. He rushed up to the goal and kicked the ball into our net passing it by Živko Živković, who ran out of the goalmouth. 1:3
In the 78th minute Milojević had a huge chance, but Živko Živković had an even more huge save. Meanwhile Lukić stayed on the ground laying; a Borac-player kicked him on his back. Lukić couldn’t continue the game. Kosović, his substitute debuted in Partizan.

Nebojša Kosović

(photo: partizan.rs)

In the 82nd minute Borac got a free kick from a distance, on the right. The ball was passed into our goalmouth and headed to our goal line, but it was too wide.
In the 87th minute we led a counter-attack after a Borac-corner. Trujić ran up on the right side and passed it to the middle. Šaponjić arrived, but defenders cleared the area.

(photo: partizan.rs)

Corner kick, the shot was saved by the goalkeeper.

(photo: hotsport.rs)

(photo: partizan.rs)

Facts:

Venue: City stadium, Čačak
Number of spectators: 5000
Referee: Danilo Grujić (assistants: Dalibor Đurđević, Milan Minić - 4th assistant: Slađan Rajković - goal line assistants: Milan Ilić, Dejan Anđelković)

Borac: Bajić - Tanasin, Miletić, Jablan, S. Živković - Mićić, Jovančić - Milan Jevtović (Krstić, 72.), Vukmirović (Đerić, 59.), Knežević - Vujaklija (Milojević, 35.)
Head coach: Nenad Lalatović

FK Partizan: Ž. Živković - Bandalovski, Balažic, Fabricio (Ćirković, 46.), N. Petrović - Lukić (Kosović, 81.), Marko Jevtović, Babović, S. Ilić (Golubović, 75.) - Šaponjić, Trujić
Head coach: Zoran Milinković

Goal scorers: Trujić (38.), Balažic (49.), Lukić (71.), Knežević (72.)

Ladies and gentlemen, please, stand up in attention for a minute: in this game no players were booked.

I add the league table later, tomorrow there will be still games of this round.

Update:
Current championship standings:

1. Crvena Zvezda 17 points
2. Javor 15 points
3. Vojvodina 13 points*
4. Partizan 12 points*
5. Radnički Niš 12 points
6. Borac 10 points
7. Novi Pazar 9 points
8. Metalac 9 points
9. Čukarički 8 points
10. Rad 8 points*
11. Mladost 8 points
12. FK Voždovac 6 points
13. OFK Beograd 6 points
14. Spartak Zlatibor Voda 6 points
15. Surdulica 6 points
16. Jagodina 2 points*

Teams marked with * played only 6 matches.