Marko Stamenic (FK Crvena zvezda | Serbia)

Via Niche Cache - some highlights from the big derby game on the weekend (2-2 draw).
Stamenic sooo close to scoring in the first 5 mins!  His left shot shaves the upright.

The atmosphere sounds electric, plenty of flares at one end from the Red Star ultras section.

The last 15 mins or so is frantic (2-2) with RS desperate to get a winning 3rd goal. Hit the woodwork twice, numerous last ditch Partizan goal line clearances. Huge game for both teams obviously.

https://youtu.be/HzlJGwX_q4A

coochiee

Via Niche Cache - some highlights from the big derby game on the weekend (2-2 draw).
Stamenic sooo close to scoring in the first 5 mins!  His left shot shaves the upright.

The atmosphere sounds electric, plenty of flares at one end from the Red Star ultras section.

The last 15 mins or so is frantic (2-2) with RS desperate to get a winning 3rd goal. Hit the woodwork twice, numerous last ditch Partizan goal line clearances. Huge game for both teams obviously.

https://youtu.be/HzlJGwX_q4A

Wow. What a game to have played in. At times the pitch couldn’t be seen as a result of smoke from the flares. The stadium is packed and coordinated. This game really really matters to this city. No complaints about lack of exposure. 

This isn’t something you’d get the chance to experience in England (outside the big clubs) or Belgium or Ireland or Scandinavia and probably the Netherlands- though some of those derbies sound wild. 

The highlights are mental- just wave after wave of penalty box skirmish and some how they can’t make weight of chances come to bare. Saves, cross bars, free kicks, misses…

Though the action goes on like this right into the hundredth minute, Stamenic was subbed after 56 minutes. 

Red Star win 2-0 at Radnički Niš. Stamenic on at 59 mins (1-0).

The important news is that Partizan lose at home 0-1 verus Napredak (9th). Maybe the huge derby game left them jaded.
 
Anyway Red Star now go 1st, leading by 2 points.

Red Star (1st) host Radnicki Kragujevac (4th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/17/serbia/super-liga/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/fk-radnicki-kragujevac/4185683/

Gets an hour and the first goal in a 5-0 win.
Lurking at the back post to pounce on a GK error

Partizan only had a draw, so suddenly Red Star are 4 points clear in first. Partizan's last 3 games DLD.

Marko Stamenic lurking at the far post for his first league goal for Crvena zvezda, getting them underway in what proved to be another big win

Red Star are now 4 points clear at the top of the Serbian Superliga#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/WqnB92tGog

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 17, 2024

Red Star (1st) travel to Javor (12th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/03/30/serbia/super-liga/fk-javor-ivanjica/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/4185688/

Edit - Stamenic on the bench.

Stamenic on at HT (2-0) in a 3-0 win. Red Star stay 4 pots ahead of Partizan (who also won).

Red Star (1st) host IMT Novi Beograd (12th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/03/serbia/super-liga/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/imt-novi-beograd/4185700/

Red Star 2-0 win. Stamenic on at 60 mins (2-0).

Two more rounds before a top 8, bottom 8 split.

Red Star (first) travel to Radnik Surdulica (16th/last)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/07/serbia/super-liga/fk-radnik-surdulica/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/4185703/

Stamenic of at HT (0-0). His replacement Katai with both goals, in a 2-0 win.

Cup quarterfinal and Red Star host OFK Vršac from the Serbian 2nd tier.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/10/serbia/cup/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/ofk-vrac/4293436/

Stamenic a full game in a 3-0 win.

Got a nice counter attacking assist in that 3-0 Cup win against a 2nd tier side.

Slick bit of midfield mahi from Marko Stamenic to set up Red Star’s first goal in a 3-0 win vs Vršac which sends them into the Serbian Cup semis#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/bsadcmQKGL

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 12, 2024

Red Star (1st) host Železničar Pančevo (2nd last)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/14/serbia/super-liga/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/elezniar-pancevo/4185717/

Last round before top 8, bottom 8 split

Full game in a 3-0 win.

Elsewhere Partizan (2nd) lost away 3-2 at Cukaricki. So gap is now 7 points, when a few weeks back with the derby it was just the point.

League splits into top 8, bottom 8 now. But suspect title is now Red Star's.

Their last loss was December last year against Partizan. Prior that you have to go back to September/August last year for their other 2 losses in this campaign, when they were also juggling UCL games.

Unbeaten last 11 league games, and now no European distractions.

From Flying Kiwis, some comments on Stamenic. He's been more on the bench lately for Red Star than starting.

It’s still understood around the club that he’s capable of reaching a higher level than he has done so far with Red Star, but then it’s also understood that he’s young and still learning. Here’s his coach speaking about him...

Vladan Milojević: “We are trying in every possible way. [Stamenic] is a talented guy and we will try him in several positions. The player has his own preference about which role he likes to play, but we'll see... I'm generally satisfied with all the players. For me, the most important thing is the relationship, because this is professionalism. That's the most important thing to me.”

Big week for Stamenic & Red Star (1st, 77 pts). Tonight they host Partizan (2nd, 70 pts) in the league. Virtually must win for Partizan to catch RS in the league.

That's given these 2 teams are so dominant and rarely lose to anyone else.
TSC in 3rd are 10 pts behind Partizan, and Vojvodina in 4th, another 10 pts further back ie 27 pts behind RS.

7 rounds (top 8) to finish the season.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/20/serbia/super-liga/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/fk-partizan-beograd/4350923/

Then midweek RS host Partizan again in Serbian Cup semi final.

A flareathon in Belgrade. Red Star are losing 1-2 until the 89th min, when they get their 2nd goal to make it 2-2.

Then not long after they earn a pen (looks a bit soft), which they convert and the home crowd goes nuts. Off go the flares & baiting of the Partizan fans. RS with the 3-2 win. Partizan players surround the ref at the final whistle.

Had RS lost Partizan would have had a sniff of catching them. Now it's a 10 point gap, and you might as well present the trophy now to Stamenic & friends.
 
Full game Marko S. Interesting experience no doubt for the young Kiwi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvSrsJzvdhs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2FEoeQE8j4

Two teams to do it all again midweek in their Cup semi final.

Wee bit of hyperbole. Stamenic was mostly a sub at FCK last season, especially in the Superliga (only 8 starts). But nice to see him starting, and playing a full game overnight, in such a big match.

Back to back league and cup doubles, even - with Champions League group stage footy in both seasons

This dude only just turned 22 🙌 https://t.co/DXEq8mPdAg

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 20, 2024

coochiee

Wee bit of hyperbole. Stamenic was mostly a sub at FCK last season, especially in the Superliga (only 8 starts). But nice to see him starting, and playing a full game overnight, in such a big match.

Back to back league and cup doubles, even - with Champions League group stage footy in both seasons

This dude only just turned 22 🙌 https://t.co/DXEq8mPdAg

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 20, 2024

More than enough appearances/minutes for a winners medal though. 😉

Final meeting of Red Star & Partizan this season. This time in a Serbian Cup semi final.

To date their 3 matchups this season split 1 draw & a win each.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/24/serbia/cup/fk-crvena-zvezda-beograd/fk-partizan-beograd/4351067/

Red Star into the Cup final with a 2-0 win