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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Interesting that last season RS were unbeaten the whole season (pre Stamenic), and finished with 97 pts.
This season they have lost 3 games (all in 2023), and at the winter break from memory were 2nd behind Partizan. But such has been RS's diominant form post the break with 2 ins in their final 2 games, they will finish with 96 pts.