The Red Journey

@Josh- Thanks mate, yeah Onyilo has really stepped up!

Another fairly solid month for Red Star Belgrade, as they came away with 4 wins, 1 draw and a loss. They started the month well, by pulling off another European upset by coming from behind to beat AS Saint-Etienne. Next, was a trip to arch-rivals Partizan who held them to a draw. After a big 4-0 league victory over OFK Beograd, they suffered their first loss of the season against Sevilla, a sad, but expected result, as the team did well just to contain them to 2 goals. Finally, came the double header against Donji Srem, who they beat both times comfortably.



Red Star now have a 4 point lead over the team in 2nd place Vojvodina, who have risen above Radnicki 1923. They also have a significantly larger goal difference than the rest of the teams in the league already in the season. Their rivals, Partizan, buoyed by their draw against Red Star, have powered on, claiming several victories, and moving into 4th place. Napredak have moved out of the relegation zone, but OFK Beograd remain firmly at the bottom.



Filip Kasalica is still the league’s top scorer, despite playing just 1 game up front for Red Star. He has been kept out of that role by fellow striking partner, Ifeanyi Onyilo, who has moved into 3rd place in the top goal scorers list after a great month. Kosta Bajic has managed to overtake both Pecnik, Ninkovic and Milunovic in terms of assists, with 5.




This month’s star has undoubtedly been striker, Ifeanyi Onyilo. After being given a chance when resting top scorer Filip Kasalica, Onyilo has taken his place, and the 23 year old Nigerian has been in great form over the last 6 games, scoring 6 times. His best performance came against Saint-Etienne where he scored both goals as they came from behind to win it late on. He also got another double against Donji Srem, where he showed off his good off the ball movement to its best.

Very nice update, congrats on topping the league

@Justice - Thanks, I hope I can stay there

Red Star came out of their Europa League group stage match, feeling very unlucky as they were beaten in harsh circumstances by a Sevilla side, who in all truth, weren’t playing at the top of their game. Despite the result however, the Serbian side still remain very much in contention to qualify to the knockout rounds, with two more games to play, they are just a point behind leaders Saint-Etienne, who they have to play again, after beating them in France the first time around.

As the game began, it looked like it would be Red Star’s day, as they faced a side which seemed out of form and tired. Hey capitalized on this fact very early on, after just 7 minutes, when Gogic saw Nejc Pecnik in space, and slipped a clever pass into him, which the winger hit first time into the back of the net, giving the Sevilla keeper no chance. Red Star, who looked much better than in the first leg, looked to be on course for a solid victory, as they pushed well for a 2nd, whilst remaining defensively alert. This period however, soon came to an end, as Sevilla, determined to take 3 points, launched some attacks of their own, pegging the home side back, and not allowing them to extend their lead. This soon turned into domination, with the Spanish side’s stars looking deadly every time they went forward. Red Star did survive the onslaught until half time, and were still leading by a goal.

However, this changed immediately as the 2nd half started, as Chelsea loanee Marko Marin found himself in space on the wing, and played a lofted ball into the box, who was met by Cala, who beat Bajkovic and changed the entire emphasis of the game, as he made the score line 1-1. Now, it was a case of who would break first, and let in that all important goal, which could be crucial in deciding who qualifies to the next round. It looked to be the home side Red Star, who responded well to the goal, and had a great chance when Pecnik was played through, but his chip was narrowly off target, and he couldn’t get his 2nd of the game. It was just moment later, in the 61st minute, when the big talking point of the game occurred. Marin, who had looked lively all game, hit a quick ball into Lafita, which was intercepted by Martinovic. However, the referee though the centre back used his hands to control the ball before he cleared it, and gave a penalty to Sevilla, much to the anger of both the Red Star players and fans. Gamiero stepped up, and despite Bajkovic guessing the right way, he could not stop it. As much as Red Star tried to get back into the match, their efforts were negated by strong defending by the Spanish side, who had parked the bus in front of their gal, not allowing the home side to exploit any gaps. The match ended 1-2 to Sevilla, who left Belgrade very pleased, but the game was shrouded in controversy over the penalty decision.

Unlucky to lose your lead, doubt it was a penalty

unlucky to lose after going ahead so early on

@Louis - It really wasn't! I was outraged
@Seb09LFC - Yeah, it was annoying, but I've still got a chance in the group, so I'm not too mad.

ahhh you will bounce back as normal

After a shaky start by their standards at the start of the month, Red Star soon found their stride and continued in the form that sees them at the top of their domestic league table. Despite a nervy performance against Jagodina to start off the month, they looked good value, even in their unlucky loss versus Sevilla. In was in the last three games however when they really showed how good they were, getting two 2-0 results against Rad and Vozvodac, before destroying Napredak at home, in a game where Filip Kasalica looked like the man who was wrecking the league at the start of the season.



The slipup against Jagodina has not cost Red Star too much, as they still remain 6 points clear at the top of the table, as the only unbeaten side in the league, a record which they hope will remain intact until the end of the season. Partizan have not been able to continue their impressive form from last month and slip back down into 8th, now 16 points off the top, as it becomes less and less likely they will be a major threat for the title. In Europe, it is much tighter with just 1 point splitting the top 3. After the losses to Sevilla, Red Star are 3rd due to goal difference, but everything could change after the last two games, with all sides still in contention for qualification. Red Star can take the fact that Filip Kasalica is the top goal scorer of the competition, with an incredible tally of 9 goals at this stage.



Red Star players continue to dominate the stats, with Filip Kasalica remaining top of the goal scorers list for the 4th month in a row. He has also been the most consistent player, with the highest average rating of 7.56, closely followed by right back star, Marko Vesovic and centre back Novak Martinovic, with average ratings of7.51 and 7.36 respectively. In terms of assists, Milos Ninkovic is still tied 1st at the top, with one of this month’s star performers, Nejc Pecnik tied for 2nd.




Another tough month to choose Red Star’s best player, with several players giving great performances throughout the month, such as winger Nejc Pecnik, but no-one has been as vital as centre back Novak Martinovic. The 28 year old Serbian has been vital for us, especially in the last 3 league games where he led our defence to 3 consecutive clean sheets. Despite his age, he has been able to keep his place in the starting line-up over hot young prospects, Darko Lazic and Miguel Araujo, and has been playing at the top of his game.

Awesome going in the league, hopefully you can just slip into 2nd or 1st place in Group L, it's a very tough group so I wouldn't be disappointed if it doesn't happen for you

awesome update Pecnik looks a beast

@Jack - Thanks, yeah, when I saw the group I was thinking I'd be lucky to get a couple of points, so I wouldn't be too annoyed if we didn't qualify.
@Jason - Thanks, Pecnik has definitely been vital for me.

Red Star Belgrade have defied all odds and have come through a very tough group, which was predicted by many pundits to be the ‘Group of Death’, with several tournament favourites in it, finishing in 2nd place, a point above Saint-Etienne, and 2 points above Swansea. This is hugely surprising for football fans everywhere, as the club have never got past the Qualifying Playoffs of this competition before, and with their current form in Europa, they are a team no-one wants to be drawn against.


The 5th game of the group for Red Star, showed little signs that they would be moving into the next rounds, as they were beaten by Swansea, despite each of their players giving it their all in the match. The game which was held at the Liberty Stadium, was never going to be easy for the Serbians, and the Welsh side started well, holding most of the ball, and stopping their opposition moving out of their half. Despite this, the home side couldn’t take advantage of their dominance, and near the end of the first half, Red Star began to threaten on the break, with striker Kasalica looking especially dangerous. However, neither side was able to break through, and they went into the break level. 8 minutes after the start of the 2nd half the first real moment of interest in the match occurred, as young centre back Darko Lazic looked to handle the ball inside his own box, and the referee gave Swansea a penalty, much to the dismay of the travelling Red Star fans. De Guzman stepped up, but had his shot saved by Bajkovic, minutes later, the midfielder had to go of injured, in what looks like a fairly serious problem for him. In was in the 76th minute that the first, and only goal of the match happened, when Leon Britton played a great over the top ball into the path of Nathan Dyer, who hit a half volley, which clipped the far post and went in. Red Star were unable to reply and the match ended 1-0, and saw Swansea in 3rd while Red Star fell into last place in their group with one game to go.


This last game was a home game against Saint-Etienne, where the winner would take all and progress to the qualifying rounds. With this kind of pressure on the match, both sides played their First 11, and prepared for a very tough encounter. The first half reflected this, as both sides looked very strict tactically, not giving the opposition a sniff at goal. While the French side had more possession, they found it hard to get into good positions attacking-wise, and found themselves shooting from range more times than not. Red Star’s chances were clearer cut, but they were few and far between. The best chance of the half came when Kovacevic broke through Saint-Etienne lines and was one on one with Ruffier, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper who pushed it away. The 2nd half was very different, with the home side taking the initiative. This was shown in the 50th minute, when Onyilo was picked out in the box, and after taking a clever touch, shot high into the roof of the net to give Red Star a precious lead. From then on, Red Star didn’t look likely to lose, as they brushed away the meagre attacks Saint-Etienne threw at them, before doubling their lead when Onyilo’s shot was saved, and the ball fell kindly to Kasalica who scored in the 62nd minute. Despite a cruel injury to key midfielder, Milos Ninkovic, Red Star spirits were not dampened, and got their third and best goal in the 79th minute, when Ninkovic’s replacement, young star Savicevic played a one two with Kasalica before launching a shot from 30 yards which clipped the post and went in, all but sealing Red Star’s place in the next round. Saint-Etienne did get one back when striker Brandao hit a ferocious shot to beat Bajkovic from just outside the box, but it was not enough as his club was dumped out of the competition, at the expense of the team from Belgrade, who look unstoppable.

Congratulations on qualifying! Very nice write-up too.