After a short Summer break the Serbian Superliga returns for the 2022/23 season. Sunday night marked the end of the opening 7 games, with the 8th awaiting Monday night. Trophy talks, champion ambitions, and the return of familiar faces feature this football weekend.
The first regular format I’ve implemented at the very start of SidelineSRB’s existence also returns ahead of the site’s 7th birthday.
This weekend’s Round 1 opener were Voždovac and Novi Pazar who both avoided getting cut last season. The match at the Belgrade’s cozy Rooftop Stadium ended in 1-0. The only scorer was a beloved face at Voždovac – Stefan Hajdin towards the end of the first half.
The second of the Belgrade’s Four – Čukarički was defeated on home grounds by the equally ambitious TSC (1-4). Goran Antonić lead up TSC after the first 35 minutes, while Mihajlo Spasojević equalized 20 minutes later.
TSC got their lead back in two minutes (55′) through Nemanja Stojić. However TSC were not done. Around the 60th minute TSC scored again thanks to Mihajlo Banjac. The pace then dropped and we were able to see stronger defence on both sides. Including yellow cards and an expulsion for Stefan Kovač of Čukarički. As the final minute went by Slobodan Stanojlović marked the final 4-1 and got himself booked.
Zvezda, Partizan and the namesakes of Mladost and Radnički
Aside from the stay of Voždovac and Novi Pazar, as well as the return of Javor we have a debutant squad – Novi Sad’s Mladost GAT who replaced Rad in the standard Superliga trio of Rad, Radnik and Radnički.
Partizan beat Javor (4-0) as the team from Ivanjica returned to the Superliga. The Black and Whites’ goal season (21′) was opened by 18 year-old Mihajlo Petković who established himself as the new fan favorite. That was it for the first half.
Natcho scored Partizan’s second goal of the match midway through the second half (68′). Followed by Baždar (77′) and a disputed penalty for Gomes. The squad of returning coach Ilija Stolica wishes to take the trophy away from their biggest rival in the new season.
Spartak drew with Mladost (1-1) with the goals scored by Luka Bijelović (40′) for Spartak and Bojović who brought an equalizer to Mladost from the penalty line (69′).
Zvezda once again started their new season as the reigning champions. Their first win of the league came in new kits against Radnički Niš in front of some 16.000 fans at the Rajko Mitić Stadium.
Aleksandar Katai opened the match with a penalty scoring goal after only 3 minutes played. Some 20 minutes later Kangwa increased Zvezda’s advantage. Followed by Milan Pavkov, another fan favorite (31′). The final goal came from Bukari at the beginning of the second half.
Radnik were defeated by Mladost GAT, the second Youth of the league (1-2). The debutants cored through Milan Mirosavljev (16′), joined by Andrija Radulović (55′) currently on a loan from Zvezda. The only goal for Radnik was scored by Uroš Stojanović (81′). The home team had been playing with 10 after the expulsion of Ranko Jokić some 20 minutes earlier.
Vojvodina beat Napredak by a single goal scored by Veljko Simić (55′) with very few other exciting moments at the Karađorđe Stadium.
The final match between Kolubara and Radnički 1923 will be played Monday night (20.00).
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