Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 37,112
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro (Spain)
Goalscorers: Ben 23' (pen) - Grendel 25'
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Stojković, Degenek, Savić, Rodić, Jovičić, Krstičić, Ebecilio, Ben, Radonjić, Stojiljković.
Substitutes: Popović, Babić, Gobeljić, Jovančić, Simić, Milić, Srnić.
Spartak Trnava: Chudý, Kadlec, Tóth, Godál, Čonka, Jirka, Sloboda, Grendel, Greššák, Rada, Bakoš.
Substitutes: Rusov, Janso, Hladík, Miesenboeck, Oravec, Pekár, Egho.
Crvena zvezda faced a very good Spartak Trnava side on a hot summer evening in Belgrade.
It was clear from the start of the match that we would witness a real football battle between two well.organized teams.
After some initial pressure from the Serbian champions, Spartak have found their feet and showed just why they eliminated Legia Warsaw in the previous qualifying round.
Crvena zvezda struck first midway through the first half. Ben converted the 23rd-minute penalty after Nenad Krstičić had been fouled in the area.
Marakana was still rocking in celebration when the visitors made it 1-1, however. Erik Grendel found the net after a lapse of concentration in our defence to score what might prove a crucial away goal in this tie.
The equalizer was a blow for Vladan Milojević's side and it took our players some time before they could return to full swing.
Lorenzo Ebecilio tried to beat Chudý with a long-range free kick, but the Slovakian goalkeeper dived to his left to keep it out.
Second half saw Crvena zvezda enjoy most of the possession, but openings were few.
Nemanja Milić came on seven minutes into the second half to replace Nikola Stojiljković as Vladan Milojević looked to add some pace upfront. However, Milić had to go off 20 minutes later through injury and was replaced by Slavoljub Srnić.
Zvezda continued to search for a way to create some space, but it looked almost impossible against Spartak's packed midfield and hardened defence.
Veljko Simić came on for Lorenzo Ebecilio ten minutes from time as red and whites continued to push forward. Simić's pace helped Zvezda create a few half-chances, but no real opportunity came our way as team and fans alike grew more frustrated.
Final whistle came with the score level at 1-1. Next week's second leg leaves both teams with everything to play for as Crvena zvezda and Spartak Trnava search for passage into Champions League Play-off stage.