After playing the last leg of the Champions League qualifications against BATE, Partizan will have to adjust their expectations and guide themselves towards to the Europa League.
Ništa od mušeme u Humskoj. Partizan je uprkos svim nadanjima, te podršci punog stadiona JNA, izgubio šansu za odlazak u Ligu šampiona. Nije pomogao ni prelep gol iz makazica, mladog Ivana Šaponjića, samo minut pred kraj utakmice.
Even after a truly beautiful bicycle goal, by the young Ivan Šaponjić during the 92. minute, the Black and Whites weren’t able to make it into Europe’s most prestigious clubs championship. The final result of tonight’s duel with BATE Borisov was 2-1. Unfortunately, not enough for Partizan to move into the Champions League.
Not even a very loud home crowd couldn’t sufficiently push the Serbian players, in order to take their game one step further. And yet, tonight’s match was a much stronger version of Partizan on the field, in comparison to the first leg played in Belarus, in which they didn’t show sufficient initiative.
The manner in which the players of coach Zoran Milinković have shown up this evening was filled with more strength, but one missed opportunity too many. One of Serbia’s golden, U-20 generation members, Andrija Živković, will have a lot to think about, considering his missed shots, that could have easily brought the squad that extra edge. Nevertheless, he does take a great part of the credit for his team getting this far.
The players of BATE were more organized, and definitely more prepared to handle the pressure of playing important European matches. An experience that is still lacking for Partizan, especially for some of their youngest squad members.
A fact that shouldn’t be forgotten is the quality that Partizan has. The black and whites will have the chance to rise towards a stronger, European level, as the squad prepares itself for the Europa League draw on Friday, and some new battles, in which they will hopefully grow.
Izabranici Zorana Milinkovića nisu uspeli da nadoknade deficit sa gostovanja u Belorusiji. Uprkos tadašnjoj pobedi domaćina, minimalnim rezultatom, Partizan se nije dovoljno nametnuo, ni kao domaćin. Pun stadion, te glasna podrška Grobara, nisu bili dovoljni da odvedu klub do Lige šampiona. Voljena mušema će se ove sezone ipak vijoriti u Belorusiji.
Očigledna je bila razlika u iskustvu, s obzirom na to da se Beloruski protivnik znatno bolje organizovao u igri. Ipak, mladi igrači Partizana imaju više nego dovoljno vremena da izvuku pouke iz svojih grešaka.
Puno prostora za razmišljanje će imati mladi Andrija Živković, jedan od igrača sa značajnim propuštenim prilikama. Zlatni orlić je u više navrata imao prilike da svojoj ekipi pruži neophodnu prednost, ali je večeras (ne)iskustvo definitivno presudilo.
BATE je delovao spremnije, te snažnije pod pritiskom igranja značajnih evropskih utakmica. Još jedan element, koji bi ekipa Partizana morala da poboljša.
Ipak šanse za razvoj nisu daleko. Već u petak nas čeka žreb za Ligu Evrope i neke nove bitke, iz kojih će crno-beli imati prilike da izađu kao pobednici, spremni za velika dela.