All Set for Another EuroLeague Eternal Derby: Zvezda Dominate the Glass Without Centers, While Partizan Rely Heavily on Carlik Jones

The early-season trial period for Partizan and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet is officially over.

Granted, only six EuroLeague rounds have been played, and the summer arrivals on both rosters could certainly use more time to settle into new systems, team chemistry, and coaching schemes. However, when the Eternal Derby arrives, all of that goes out the window. Regardless of the early stage of the season, current form, injury setbacks, or roster gaps, winning Serbian basketball's marquee matchup remains an absolute imperative for both sides.

Speaking of form, the contrast could hardly be starker. Partizan enter the derby on the heels of three straight EuroLeague defeats (Real Madrid, Panathinaikos, and Fenerbahce), while Crvena Zvezda arrive at the black-and-white Arena riding high on a four-game winning streak across all competitions (Efes, Dubai, ASVEL, and Paris).

To start, Sofascore data shows that Crvena Zvezda lead the EuroLeague in rebounds per game (41.3 average), despite playing almost the entire campaign without the injured Johnathan Motley, who was signed in the summer to be the starting center. Ebuka Izundu suffered an injury shortly after, yet Zvezda still managed to dominate the glass without their primary big men, largely thanks to Semi Ojeleye and Dejan Davidovac stepping up in the frontcourt.

With Izundu now cleared and ready for the derby (Motley remains questionable at the time of writing), controlling Zvezda on the glass will be Partizan's top priority if they want to come away with the win. A stroke of luck for the hosts is that Christian Koloko, Zvezda's newly signed center who arrived in Belgrade just days ago, will not be on the team sheet for this clash. That is a significant relief, as the 7-foot-0 big man boasts a 7-foot-5 wingspan and exceptional rebounding prowess.

On the other hand, Partizan rank just 15th in the EuroLeague with 33.8 rebounds per game. To complicate matters further, they will be without Tonye Jekiri, one of their most reliable rebounders, for the derby matchup.

Offensively, Partizan and Zvezda are the two lowest-scoring teams in the competition (Partizan rank bottom and Zvezda second from bottom). Defensively, however, both sit among the elite, with Partizan conceding the fourth-fewest points per game and Zvezda allowing the third-fewest.

The one area where Partizan have truly stood out is forced turnovers. Averaging exactly 10.0 steals per game, Partizan lead the entire EuroLeague in takeaways, while Zvezda rank ninth with 6.8 per contest.

•     Rebounding: As noted, Zvezda lead the league with 41.3 rebounds per game, while Partizan manage a far more modest 33.8—a stark margin of 7.5 rebounds per contest.

•     Partizan's Steals vs. Zvezda's Turnovers: Partizan lead the EuroLeague with 10.0 steals per game, while Zvezda cough up 12.0 turnovers per game. Simply put, Partizan must target Zvezda’s ball security, while the red-and-whites need to protect the basketball and hide their Achilles' heel.

•     Defense Trumps Offense for Both: Partizan allow 78.5 points per game (4th) while scoring 77.7 (20th). Zvezda, meanwhile, concede 76.2 (3rd) and score 80.8 (19th). That results in a point differential of -0.8 for Partizan and +4.6 for Zvezda per game.

•     Shooting Woes: Partizan are the EuroLeague's worst three-point shooting team (30.1%), but are slightly more efficient overall from the field than Zvezda (44.8% to 42.4%). Zvezda rank last in overall field goal percentage and barely edge Partizan from deep (31.0%). With perimeter struggles on both sides, one or two crucial threes could decide the contest—or rather, whichever team is less wasteful from beyond the arc.

Carlik Jones and Chris Jones currently share the top spot on the EuroLeague assist charts, each averaging 6.0 assists per game. Both floor generals possess remarkable court vision and passing touch, excel in the pick-and-roll, read defensive coverage effortlessly, and thrive in isolation situations.

In the scoring department, Carlik Jones enjoyed a sensational start across the opening four rounds (dropping 20 points against both Olimpia Milano and Paris, 16 against Bayern, and 19 against Real Madrid). However, when Partizan squared off against Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce, the American guard saw his efficiency plummet. Carlik managed just eight points against PAO and six against Fener, as opposing defenses swarmed him, cutting off his mid-range pull-up and stifling Partizan's entire offensive rhythm. Despite the recent slump, he still averages a team-high 14.8 points per game.

As for his namesake Chris Jones, Zvezda's primary playmaker has produced far more modest scoring numbers. He averages just 7.2 points per game, highlighted by a season-best 15-point showing against Zalgiris in the opener.

It takes no clairvoyance to recognize that if Zvezda can stifle Carlik Jones the way Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce did, Partizan will struggle to pull off a victory. The same applies to Chris Jones on the other side, though his scoring is less vital to Zvezda given secondary creators like Jared Butler, Tyson Carter, and Nick Weiler-Babb, all of whom can manufacture offense for themselves and teammates.

Taking a closer look at the individual statistical leaders across other key categories:

The Eternal Derby has always delivered high-stakes basketball drama, but ever since Partizan and Crvena Zvezda began facing off in the EuroLeague in 2022, their fierce rivalry has reached an entirely new dimension.

The Belgrade giants have met eight times in the EuroLeague so far, with Partizan holding a 5-3 lead in head-to-head victories.

In their historic first EuroLeague meeting during the 2022/23 campaign, Zvezda snatched a 76-73 victory courtesy of Nemanja Nedovic's iconic buzzer-beating triple in front of the Partizan crowd, before Partizan returned the favor on the road with a 79-78 win.

The following season, the black-and-whites capitalized on home advantage to edge the first derby 88-86, before Zvezda answered with an emphatic 88-72 home triumph.

Two seasons ago, Partizan struck first with an 89-77 road victory, followed by a Zvezda response in a tight 73-71 contest.

Last season, Partizan completed a clean sweep of their rivals: first claiming a 79-76 home win in December 2025 under interim coach Mirko Ocokoljic following Zeljko Obradovic's departure, and then securing an 89-82 road victory in April 2026 with Joan Peñarroya at the helm.

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