Partizan vs Crvena Zvezda

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Partizan has had a sluggish beginning in the EuroLeague, securing just one victory in their first four games. Although their schedule was quite challenging, they missed a significant opportunity when they went into overtime and lost to Olympiacos in Piraeus last week. This loss had a noticeable impact, as they were then surprised by Mega in the ABA League.

The team hasn't made many changes to its roster from the previous season, but it seems that the new additions haven't quite reached the level of those who left. Frank Kaminsky has been struggling defensively, and PJ Dozier is still adapting to European basketball. Ognjen Jaramaz's confidence took a hit with Bayern last season, and Mateusz Ponitka is dealing with a shoulder injury. Even players expected to lead the team, like Kevin Punter, have faced challenges, and Alen Smailagic and Zach LeDay have shown inconsistency.

The upcoming derby game could be a turning point for Partizan. Last season, they had a slow start but turned things around by mid-December. To avoid a similar situation, they must achieve better results earlier in the season, and there's no better way to do that than by defeating their biggest rival.

Partizan and Crvena Zvezda faced each other 10 times last season. In the EuroLeague, their head-to-head was 1-1, and their overall record was tied at 5-5. Mateusz Ponitka will be absent for Partizan, and Branko Lazic is likely to miss the game for Crvena Zvezda due to a rib injury, with Nemanja Nedovic's participation in question.

Both Belgrade teams are currently in poor form. Partizan is struggling with defensive rebounding, while Crvena Zvezda has excelled in offensive rebounding early in the season. Controlling the boards will be a significant challenge for the black and white team. If Nedovic is unable to play for the guests, Aleksa Avramovic could apply pressure on the rest of Crvena Zvezda's backcourt. It's also time for Punter to step up for the home team, and for Smailagic to continue his form from his time in Greece.

Crvena Zvezda underwent an early coaching change this season, parting ways with Dusko Ivanovic after just three weeks. Following their loss to Virtus in Bologna, the club promoted Ioannis Sfairopoulos, a former head coach of Olympiacos and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

During the summer, the team put together their most expensive roster in history and set their sights on making it to the EuroLeague Final Four. However, losses to Virtus, Monaco, and Zalgiris have made it clear that the road ahead won't be easy, and Sfairopoulos faces a significant challenge. One of his main priorities is to better define player roles. Shabazz Napier was brought in to lead the team, but he has shown inconsistency. Rokas Giedraitis and Adam Hanga have been steady in their roles, while Mike Tobey, Yago dos Santos, and Marko Simonovic are still finding their place on the team.

Crvena Zvezda won their first EuroLeague derby against Partizan last season, even in front of Partizan's fans. They hope to replicate that success in the upcoming match under Sfairopoulos's leadership, which would be an ideal start to his tenure with the club.

Partizan recently suffered a road loss, falling to Olympiacos with a 98-94 score. Crvena Zvezda also faced defeat in their previous game, losing 85-79 on the road to Virtus Bologna. Partizan Belgrade is struggling with three losses and one win, ranking 14th in the table with a 33.3% win rate. They still have the potential to improve their results, and it remains to be seen how they will incorporate this in the upcoming match.

The KK Crvena Zvezda team is considered an underdog in the championship, and their results reflect that. They have three losses and only one win in their recent matches, placing them 13th in the table with a 25% win rate. The upcoming game will determine whether they can secure the much-needed points.