UEFA Europa league group stage is starting with two games today and all remaining on Thursday. Group where is only Serbian representative will bring us games like Manchester United - Astana and Partizan - AZ Alkmar. It is obvious that Manchester United is first favorite in this group. Remaining 3 will fight for second place and "Spring in Europe".

Partizan

Lazar Markovic and Natkho celebrating goal against Proleter

Partizan Belgrade is in solid form. Here are last 5 games we played: Partizan - Rad 3:0, Partizan - Molde 2:1, Molde - Partizan 1:1, Partizan - Backa Topola 1:1, Proleter Novi Sad - Partizan 0:3. It was hard and tough against Molde which is very solid team. They had 1:0 lead, but Partizan equalized with header after corner. Belgrade club was equal if not even better opponent in second leg which ended 1:1. Draw against Backa Topola which is currently sitting very high on league table was because of big misfortune where Partizan could not score them second despite dozens of created chances. Win against Proleter came in second half, and after unlocking them with first goal we gave them 2 more.

It is worth mentioning that Partizan strengthen squad with ex Liverpool player and kid from Partizan Lazar Markovic. He didn't play much first team football in last years and coach Savo Milosevic signed him as free agent. Lazar played against Proleter and scored a goal. He plays on left attacking position where Partizan have now young teenager Stevanovic and "Jaguar" Takuma Asano. Lazar will make possible that "Jaguar" play as central striker with Nigerian Sadiq. Second choice striker Ozegovic went out of club. Signing of Israel national squad member Bibras Natkho is also big boost because he has great overview of game and can make great passes forward.

Bad thing is injury of Soumah which is main play maker in Partizan. He skipped game this weekend with thigh muscle injury. He is under question mark for AZ game. Coach Savo Milosevic rested some first team players against Proleter. All other squad members will be ready for this game. That means squad will probably look like this: Stojkovic - Miletic, Pavlovic, Ostojic, Urosevic - Natkho, Zdjelar, Asano, Soumah(Markovic) , Tosic - Sadiq.

AZ

AZ players are celebrating goal against Sparta

AZ has also solid record in last five games. They played Groningen 0:0, draw with Antwerpen 1:1, then win them over extra time 1:4 away. They lost against Vitese 2:1 and annihilate Sparta Rotterdam with 5:1. Their second leg against Antwerpen was strange because Antwerpen lead 1:0, but their player get sent off because celebrating of goal. With extra man they managed to equalize to 1:1 and bring game to extra time where they won 1:4. I believe if there wasn't that bizarre sent off Partizan would now face Belgians. However this does not change thing that they are very good squad which plays attacking football. They trashed Sparta 5:1. When they have night they can score a lot of goals. Their strikers O. Idrissi (5 goals from 5 games) and young M. Boadu(5/3) have impressive goal scoring record. They will not just sit back and defend waiting for 90th minute. They will try to score and win here.

Conclusion

Those two teams are direct rivals for second place in group. With all respect to Astana I think Partizan and AZ are little better than them. This important game will be in non natural ambient as UEFA fined Partizan to play without fan supports. Only kids of 14 years or younger who train football can watch the game with 1 coach per group. Partizan brought 6-7000 kids on Molde games, they promised 10-15,000 of them for this game. AZ can bring their supporters so there will probably be few hundred of AZ fans on North Stand of Partizan Stadium. Fun fact is that UEFA person who decided about Partizan appeal against 2 game fine was from Netherland and of course he loved more that this game play without grown up Partizan supporters. I bet he didn't bother to read that appeal at all, but just wipe his a*ss with paper. LoL :)

Those two clubs faced each other few years ago and Partizan won both legs, but that encounter has nothing in common with this. All squads changed since then. I expect open game with goals on both sides and hope that Partizan will somehow win this game. I have big hope from Natko for buidling game and in Asano, Tosic and Markovic. Sadiq is also slowly coming in form. I might be to big optimist, but I think that Partizan can win this with result like 2:1.

Bad thing for Serbian club can be "Eternal derby" against Red Star which will be on schedule next weekend. I just hope players will not think about that game while playing with AZ or save strength for Red Star. I am pretty sure that won't happen and that coach Savo Milosevic will ensure we see real Partizan against AZ as well as against Red Star. AZ has easier game against Den Hag after. That could be their advantage.

Soccer / partizan vs az

Happy Moan day Takuma Asano

Happy Moan day Takuma Asano

Happy Moan day Takuma Asano

Europa League Partizan vs AZ match preview

Europa League Partizan vs AZ match preview

Europa League Partizan vs AZ match preview