Recap

Home team, current champions, will start new season with a game with recently promoted Dinamo Vranje side. Crvena Zvezda has been great in friendly matches before new season, they haven’t lost or played draw any single game. This game will be third official game for Crvena Zvezda after 2 games versus Spartaks (Latvia) in qualifications for Champions League. Crvena Zvezda (in the following text CZ) has changed couple players from last season but they have signed replacements for them and in my opinion they will be even stronger in this new season. Some key players like Donald (MC), Le Tallec (DC), Racic (MC) and Pesic (ST, top goalscorer) have left the club but they signed replacements for them, center backs Sumaila(Ghana) and Degenek (Australia), midfielders Jovancic (Vojvodina), Meleg (Kayserispor), Ebicilio (Apoel), Jevtovic (Antalya) and striker Stoiljkovic (Braga). CZ has also signed new contract with their coach Vladan Milojevic and I think that that sign is the best thing because their coach has done big things in just one season. CZ will probably play in new season in 4-2-3-1 formation and the possible line up is Borjan – Stojkovic- Savic – Babic – Rodic – Jovicic – Krsticic – Srnic – Ben – Radonjic –Stoiljkovic(Pavkov). CZ has great reserve players and I can say that they have 2 quality players in every position. In this game coach Milojevic will probably make some changes to his squad due to the game against Suduva which will be played 24.7. Also he can’t count on winger Srnic who is still unfit and striker Stoiljkovic has been slightly injured and he is also still unfit. This game was supposed to be played on Saturday but CZ board has changed game date to have one day extra to rest after League game because they will play on Tuesday vs Suduva (Lithuania) in second round of qualification for Champions league.

On the opposite side, team Dinamo Vranje (in the following text DV) is new team in the league, they have earned promotion last season (finished 2nd in First League). Their president Dragan Antic is also their head coach, and they have not changed their team so much compared to last season. They have released couple reserve players, and they have sign couple players from Serbian First league, two defenders Djuric (from Proleter Ns), Plavsic (Sindjelic), young goalkeeper from lower French league Milosavljevic, Dimitrov (MC, best player of Radnicki Pirot) and Randjelovic (from Radnicki Nis). Their biggest success is that they will probably keep their best goalscorer Suraka (17 goals) and midfielder Onimisi, two players from Ghana. In my opinion their squad is still weak for the Super league and they will need to sign some new players if they want to be competitive in Super league. They will probably play in 4-3-3 formation, but not so offensive like in last season. Maybe they will play in 4-5-1 due to the squad strength but we must see what their coach Antic will decide.

The game will be played at CZ stadium Rajko Mitic, capacity 55000. The pitch is in great condition and the stands will be probably full due to the fact that this game will be first official game in new season in front of their fans.
Dinamo had some financial problems this summer due to some complications with the city of Vranje who is their main sponsor but they have solved that issue for now. There is no indication of good or bad relationships between two boards and this game will be first mutual game between these two teams.