Verdict: Total goals under 2.5
Best odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: 888sport
On Tuesday, fans of domestic football in Serbia will be treated to the Serbian Cup final between the two most heavily supported teams in the country, the two most heavily decorated clubs in its history, the club that won the 1991 European Cup and the club that reached the 1966 final of UEFA’s elite competition.
Red Star
Former Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder (not to mention Red Star player and Yugoslavia, Serbia & Montenegro and Serbia international) Dejan Stankovic led the popular “Zvezda” to their 32nd league title this season. They won 35 games and drew three, building a tally of 108 points – a truly impressive feat at any level.
However, ahead of this final everyone, at the club, Stankovic most of all it seems, is focused on beating Partizan on Tuesday and turning one trophy into a double for the season.
“Everyone at the club expects us to round off a spectacular season by lifting the Cup, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make it so,” Stankovic said. “We’ve been preparing, working extremely hard regardless of the league title being secured weeks ago.”
To get to this final, Red Star went past Zlatibor, Rad, IMT, and Radnik Surdulica.
Red Star was involved in the Europa League this term, following consecutive appearances in the Champions League in the previous two. They finished second in Group L behind Hoffenheim and went on to draw twice against AC Milan in the round of 32, making way for the Rossoneri to go through on away goals.
Team News
The only player missing from the squad will be Milan Pavkov, who is suspended. Stankovic has confirmed that they have no injury problems.
Pavkov made the headlines back in 2018-19, scoring both goals in Red Star’s shocking Champions League win over Liverpool in Belgrade.
Partizan
The only club to come anywhere near Red Star in terms of trophies and country-wide support in Serbia, Partizan are always in their neighbours’ shadow. As painful as that may sound to their fans, just as fierce and passionate as those of their rivals, it is the truth.
Partizan, or the ‘black-and-whites’ as they’re usually referred to, have 27 league titles to their name, having won the last one in 2016/17. The last time any team other than these two won it was FK Obilić, back in 1997-98.
In normal circumstances, Partizan’s point tally of 95 would be enough for the trophy in most countries, but there was simply no way to match what Red Star did this term.
Partizan’s journey to this Cup final went through Bačka, Metalac, Voždovac and Vojvodina. They also played in the Europa League qualifications, where they reached the third round and were knocked out by Belgian side Charleroi.
This Cup final will be the perfect opportunity for Aleksandar Stanojevic’s team to get some revenge for losing the race in the league again and to finish the season with a trophy.
Team News
The involvement of Guinean attacking midfielder Seydouba Soumah and defender Ivan Obradovic in the final is questionable through injury, but neither has been ruled out at this point.
Conclusion
In their league encounters this season, Partizan and Red Star drew 1-1 at the Partizan Stadium in the first half of the season, while Red Star won the rematch at the Rajko Mitic by 1-0. The last couple of years have rarely seen many goals between these fierce rivals, and it’s not very likely to be different now.
Verdict: Total goals under 2.5
Best odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: 888sport
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