What to expect from… Partizan Belgrade

Seven, nineteen, five. That is the size of the points gap separating Partizan Belgrade from the chasing pack in each of the last three seasons, in a league they have simply dominated since it changed format back in 2007. When it comes to domestic football in Serbia, Partizan are top dogs.

As well as being kings of the domestic scene Partizan Belgrade, nicknamed Crno-beli because of their black and white striped shirts, are also the only Serbian side to have played in the Champions League group stage to date, back in the 2003/2004 season.

Things did not go too well for them back then. Drawn in a tough group alongside Real Madrid, Marseille and eventual winners FC Porto – managed by a plucky up-and-comer going by the name of Jose Mourinho – Partizan failed to win a game, losing all three away games but at least remaining unbeaten at home with three draws. The challenge now for manager Aleksandar Stanojevic and his side is to better that record and help Serbia improve on a UEFA coefficient that sees them ranked 24th in Europe, sandwiched between Slovakia above them, Sweden below and the likes of Czech Republic, Cyprus and Scotland all looking down from a distance.

The task will not be easy. In Group H alongside Arsenal, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting Braga, Partizan lost their opening game 1-0 against Shakhtar in Ukraine and one suspects will have to produce even better home form than in 2003/2004 to extend their European adventures beyond Christmas. What’s more, in the last two seasons Partizan have lost all but one of their European group games in the UEFA Cup and Europa League. Coincidentally, that win was against Shakhtar.

Under Stanojevic, Partizan Belgrade are a tactically disciplined side that like to play attractive attacking football. In an interview with UEFA’s Champions League magazine show, midfielder Stefan Babovic claimed Partizan’s playing style makes them “the Arsenal of Serbia.”

More often than not, coach Stanojevic lines his team up in a 4-4-2 system that translates fluidly into a 4-1-4-1 due to the flexibility of the players. New signing Ivica Iliev plays upfront alongside soon-to-be-naturalised Brazilian striker Cleo, but Stanojevic’s system often sees Iliev drop into deeper left attacking midfield position leaving Cleo upfront on his own in a 4-5-1.

In midfield Stanojevic has options. With the loan signing of 23-year-old, Swedish-born Milan Smiljanic from Espanyol as well as Babovic, Medo and Radoslav Petrovic – all of whom can play the holding role to good effect (though Smiljanic prefers to push forward), Partizan can chop and change depending on fitness and form. Arsenal scout Stewart Houston, who was in Serbia recently to watch Partizan’s 2-0 league win against Borac Cacak, will have been confused by the constant rotation.

In Ukraine, Partizan went with their trusted 4-4-2 system but were overrun by a superior Shakhtar and struggled to impose their game on the hosts. Stanojevic moved his defensive line forward and attempted to press Shakhtar’s Brazilian-inspired creative midfield, and though they lost out in possession terms Partizan did well in cutting out the supply line and minimising Shakhtar’s possession in danger zones. Former Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was also in fantastic form. It took a wonderful free-kick from skipper Darijo Srna to finally beat him.

After that game, coach Stanojevic was relatively pleased. “I congratulate my players for playing sensible football and showing tactical discipline. It was only in the last ten minutes when they failed to follow instructions.”

Ahead of a game against Arsenal, a team who ruthlessly exploited their domination of possession in beating Braga 6-0, Stanojevic’s admission that “Shakhtar played better and controlled the rhythm of the game throughout” does not bode so well.

In terms of playing personnel the key men for Partizan Belgrade for this Champions League campaign are Cleo and Vladimir Stojkovic. Cleo is a prolific goalscorer at the subject of some debate in Serbia of late, after being granted citizenship by the Serbian government to allow him to play for Serbia presumably in their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers.

After the departure of Lamine Diarra, another regular goalscorer for Partizan in the domestic league, Cleo is now left to carry the can for the black and whites. The former Red Star man has started the season well, with 3 goals in 5 league games. The 25-year-old’s 8 goals in Champions League qualifying were central to Partizan making it this far in the first place. Recently married Cameroon international Pierre Boya, back for a second spell after signing from Grenoble, will also be expected to contribute.

Keeper Stojkovic will also be important. And busy, as he was at the Donbass Arena. Stojkovic caused a storm in Serbia after joining Partizan on loan from Sporting Lisbon. Having come up through the ranks at Red Star Belgrade, moving to their bitter rivals was a big no-no, but one he went through with anyway. In the ensuing brouhaha he received death threats. One group even posted his obituary on a sports’ forum webpage. “I understand the fans, but posting my obituary is too much,” said Stojkovic, whose shirt was taken down from the Red Star team cafe.

It will be interesting to see how Partizan Belgrade approach the game against Arsenal and how Stanojevic, the youngest coach in the club’s history, sets out his team at home in the competition more generally. While they sat back and remained hard to break down against Shakhtar one senses that was more down to the way the hosts imposed themselves on Partizan rather than out of a conscious decision to defend. However, an attacking 4-4-2 shape has been proven difficult to implement at this level, particularly against players of superior ability.

Will Partizan stick to Stanojevic’s philosophy of good football, or go conservative against the more technically gifted Gunners and Braga? Stanojevic’s dilemma is one the wider football coaching fraternity is also having to contemplate at large.

(photo by Matthew Wilkinson on Flickr)

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