Partizan is away to bitter rivals Crvena Zvezda on Saturday (4pm CET kick-off) for a Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga round 24 fixture. This is also 175th edition of Eternal Belgrade derby.
H2H (last six)
CZ 3, Partizan 1, Drawn 2. Gd: 11-6, CZ.
TEAM NEWS
Aside from number of long-term absentees, Jurcevic is serving one-game suspension.
Partizan boss Srdjan Blagojevic`s press ahead of tomorrow`s game:
-This is the most beautiful thing Serbian football can offer and I`m glad to participate in one such game. It`s my first derby and I`m extremely proud and motivated – I have no doubts it`s going to be a very interesting encounter. It`s a football feast and there`s never a favourite to win this game, regardless of the state the given club is in. But, I have to admit Crvena Zvezda is favourite to win at this moment but that doesn`t mean we will raise the white flag. We have a right to hope and we hope we can get what we are after tomorrow, to try and get a positive result as much as can.
We were preparing for a derby game as for any other one but we are aware this is Serbian football`s holy day as well. But, as in any game, it`s a battle for points and we have a next match midweek to think about, so it`s game by game for us and we just have to keep moving forward.
Of course, lots of injuries influence our game preparation and we are kind of limited on certain playing positions but we are what we are and everyone available is obligated to try their best. I know my starting line-up for tomorrow.
We scanned Crvena Zvezda and we know their qualities as well as gaps they have we can use in our game. It`s just on us to implement it on the field. Once again, their quality makes them favourites to win tomorrow but we have right to be motivated and to have desire so I`m sure we`ll not lack any of it, including fine energy levels.
I said to the players derby game is celebration of football but also a game like any other. I also try to be calm myself and transfer it onto the player who will surely be excited ahead of this match. I try to present them the importance of this game and the next one, the amount of points for grabs is the same.
Crvena Zvezda is ahead of us when it comes to intensity of games but our task is to get close to their pace, as than we are talking about higher level game. Anyhow, we`ll try to match host`s intensity as well.
I don`t think they`ll be less motivated. It`s a derby game and motivation is not something you can question regarding any player. They might be motivated to make a record standings gap while we`ll be there to show the difference between the two teams is not that big. It`s all legit, both teams will invest maximum effort in accordance to their motivation.
Our rivals are well organized, strong individually and physically dominant. But, we have our qualities and we showed some of it during the previous three matches after the winter break, although we are still picking up.
I didn`t notice psychological burden in my team and we tried to release them of pressure. It`s probably going to be different when you walk out of the tunnel in front of large crowd, when the ball starts rolling.
