Partizan is away to Tekstilac on Sunday (2pm CET kick-off) as part of Mozzart Bet Serbian Super Liga round 25 fixtures. Tekstilac will host Partizan in Loznica as their Odzaci ground doesn`t meet SSL criteria currently.
H2H
Tekstilac is SSL newcomer. Partizan won corresponding league fixture at home 4-1.
TEAM NEWS
Aleksandar Filipovic resumed training. Milosevic is still on the road of recovery.
Press from Partizan boss Srdjan Blagojevic ahead of Tekstilac away:
“Tekstilac was surprise package last season when they managed to reach top-tier football and I always have special respect for teams who make such big and unexpected success. I have great respect for Tekstilac, their management and players, although they now battle to beat the drop. But, as we are 7 points ahead of third-placed Radnicki 1923, Tekstilac is just 7 points behind play-off spot, these are all small margins. I also have respect for some of their performances – they beat Novi Pazar away, they beat TSC but lost home to Radnicki 1923 and Cukaricki. Therefore, we cannot underestimate them our stance is not to underestimate any opponent. We do understand we are favourites to win tomorrow as we managed good results over the past five games playing against four out of the top five teams in the league.
We didn`t expect their coach Matic to move to TSC ahead of tomorrow`s game. We were getting ready for this match watching him by the dugout and new coach will bring new things, new energy, never mind if it`s only a caretaker coach. So, we need to be cautious and we cannot know how Tekstilac is going to play now but we have to be ready for everything they throw at us.
It`s always nice when you win and it`s our task to win at all times. We also need fine performances and it`s my special task to be pleased with a result and the way we play, tomorrow`s encounter is no different. I don`t expect similar game to the one we played midweek. Tekstilac in not going to play waiting game, they try to impose high intensity and they try to move up the field with possession play.
We are moving forward. Sometimes our steps are small and sometimes our progress is more visible, like in the game against Mladost. We will have our ups and downs but this is the team we started mid-season preps with, we are all the same here now, we only work harder. So, after all the workload, players adapt some things, they try hard. We are aware of our flaws but I hope we will steadily progress to reach our goals.
