Recap

2. round, Saturday (July 28) (20:00)

Home team started new season with defeat against Napredak side. Young Rad side under their coach Milinkovic, who helped them to remain in Super league last season, will need some time to get into good form if they don’t want to be in danger of relegation like in last season. Coach Milinkovic, after match against Napredak said that he is not unhappy with performance of his team because his team is full of young players who are still developing and he is very glad that he can work with them. Rad has some problems to register new players due to the ban of the Serbian football association (newly arrived striker Kasalica can’t play due to that ban). In last game, they have played in their usual formation 4-2-3-1. It is possible that their captain, midfielder Djordje Djenic will miss second game in a row due to the injury that he got just before last match. Best player of Rad is winger Lutovac and his team will need some good performance from him if they want to remain in the Super league this season.

On the opposite side, Cukaricki blew their lead in last game against Zemun (1:1) and their new coach, Simo Krunic was unhappy after that match. His opinion was that if his team wants to compete with other teams for Europa league qualification, they should win those matches against “smaller” clubs. Cukaricki don’t have problems with injured players and beside midfielder Zoric (broken finger), coach Krunic will have all players at his disposal. Best part of Cukaricki’s side are two tireless midfielders, Docic and veteran Drincic, and winger Bojic who is still searching for good form after he missed almost whole last season due to the knee injury. Cukaricki will probably go out in 4-2-3-1 formation in this game.

The game will be played at Rad’s stadium, Kralj Petar I, capacity 3500 which is in solid condition. Rad have small but noisy and faithful fans base, and their fans often make good atmosphere on Rad’s matches. Good visit is not expected as Cukaricki don’t have good fans base. Last season these teams played twice, and both times Cukaricki has won by same result (3:0). This game is a small Belgrade derby but these teams don’t have many fans so this derby is not as popular as he can be. I think that Cukaricki is stronger side and if they want to compete for EL qualification they should go for a win in this match, and I expect one good match with more than 2 goals.