Crvena zvezda and Spartak took breaks from their respective European campaigns to serve up an entertaining match on Sunday evening. And it was the Champions of Serbia who maintained their 100% record in this season's Superliga with a 3-0 win over Spartak Subotica.
Ground: Rajko Mitić Stadium
Attendance: 5,278
Referee: Nenad Đokić
Goalscorers: Pavkov 42', 68'
Teams:
Crvena zvezda: Popović, Gobeljić, Babić, Sumaila, Hajdin, Jovančić, Meleg, Milijaš, Jevtović, Srnić, Pavkov.
Substitutes: Supić, Degenek, Terzić, Jovičić, Simić, Joveljić, Stojiljković.
Spartak: Lučić, Ćalasan, Milošević, Rakić, Tekijaški, Vukčević, Marčić, Torbica, Afum, Chow, Đenić.
Substitutes: Ostojić, Shimura, Dunđerski, Lazić, Milić, Šormaz.
Vladan Milojević picked a rotated team for this Superliga encounter and his players did great in very hot conditions.
Milan Jevtović thought he'd scored midway through the first half after being played in with a clever pass from Dejan Meleg, but his low shot could only hit the far post.
The teams struggled early on on the heat, but it was Zvezda who looked more likely to score, Nenad Milijaš failing to find a way around the wall with a free kick and Slavoljub Srnić firing well wide with his left foot.
Just as a first-half goal started to seem unlikely, Milan Pavkov produced a moment of class and went around a defender before finding the corner with a precise low finish on 42 minutes. Great moment to open the scoring!
Branko Jovičić replaced Dušan Jovančić at the start of second half as gaffer tried to keep the team fresh.
Rashid Sumaila, however, was forced off through injury. Miloš Degenek took his place in the centre of defence.
Milan Pavkov had a great evening as he bullied Spartak defenders and got another goal on 68 minutes when he planted a header beyond Lučić after a long throw-in from Stefan Hajdin.
Veljko Simić came on for captain Nenad Milijaš and injected some pace in Zvezda's forward line.
Spartak couldn't cope and were pinned back for the most of the second half.
It ended 2-0 with Crvena zvezda deserving winners of this Superliga encounter.
Slavoljub Srnić in particular was full of running as he got into good positions and deserved to get on the scoresheet, but it wasn'tvto be. Hopefully he will bring his shooting boots to Slovakia as the team sets off to an important Champions League trip.