Basketball Spectacle in Belgrade: All About the EuroLeague Derby Zvezda - Partizan!

Pulse Sports Team 06:55 - 02 April 2026

Thursday is derby day: Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet and Partizan will face off in the 35th round of the EuroLeague. Red Star is the host, tickets are sold out, with 20,000 fans in the Arena, including 1,000 Partizan supporters. The game starts at 8 PM.

All eyes in the basketball world will be on Belgrade this Thursday, specifically on the Arena, the largest indoor venue in the Balkans. At precisely 8 PM, the eternal derby of the 35th EuroLeague round will tip off.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet will host Partizan in front of 20,000 fans. In their first European derby this season, Partizan emerged victorious after a significant comeback, winning 79-76.

Obradović: Support us all, regardless of the game's flow

Ahead of the new EuroLeague clash, Saša Obradović, the coach of the decorated club from Mali Kalemegdan, addressed the fans, stating, among other things:

Controlling emotions is paramount; everyone understands the importance of this physically demanding game. Partizan is a team that has been playing exceptionally well, with five consecutive EuroLeague wins, which is no accident. There's another, more crucial aspect: the mental approach for Partizan and us isn't the same. Our crowd has always been a source of support, but sometimes it can also be a burden. That's why I ask everyone to support us no matter how the game unfolds. We need to be in this together, because if we start focusing on things beyond our control, there will be a lot of nervousness, which we want to avoid.Saša Obradović

The Red Star head coach knows that Carlik Jones is the engine of the Partizan team, the player from whom everything originates:

"Many have tried different tactics against him, but he adapts to everything; he's a top-tier point guard in Europe. He knows how to create for himself and others, and those are certainly things Partizan needs. He also resolves isolation plays with high efficiency, he's in a role he wants and in a comfortable zone, which makes it difficult for whoever guards him," Obradović said.

When asked to comment on the frequent use of smaller lineups with Semi Ojeleye and Chima Moneke at center, Obradović emphasized:

It's quite amusing to me, and of course, I don't read or watch what anyone writes. I challenged a journalist to tell me everything negative that could be said. Then it started: why is Ojeleye at the five, why wasn't this play run after the timeout, why is the shot selection like this, why was a big lead squandered? People need to understand the basics. Why are we hard to guard? These are instinct players; if you try to force them into an overly rigid system, it can be counterproductive. I'm not just talking about Nwora and Butler. They rely heavily on a certain freedom of play; spacing gets lost, as does the understanding of what a good shot is. The NBA, America, these are players who need to adapt to this type of game. Team play is learned; it's not a month-long process. The worst are those who think they know, but are actually the biggest detriment to themselves and others. I believe this is how the team should play, and I will always demand that they play better defense. Our success depends on that. Saša Obradović

You can read Saša Obradović's full statement ahead of the match against Partizan in a separate article.

Peñarroya: We've changed the atmosphere and our game

Joan Peñarroya, Partizan's coach, stated the following in his preview of the new eternal derby:

At this moment, our situation is quite different because we've won many games, but more importantly, we've changed the atmosphere and our style of play. We are happy, but that's not enough. We want to improve further and fight for our goals. Joan Peñarroya

Carlik Jones' statement that they want nothing more than for Zvezda to miss the playoffs caused quite a stir.

"Carlik is a warrior and a competitor; this is a big game, everyone is motivated and excited to play tomorrow. The statement isn't that important; what's much more important is that we play strong and well. My motivation is that we will play in a fantastic atmosphere, in front of a packed Arena, and that we can get revenge for our last loss in the ABA League," Peñarroya added.

He was asked to comment on the difference between "El Clásico" and the Serbian derby.

A derby is a derby, no matter where it's played. It's always an important game; we have to control our emotions. The only difference compared to Spain is that there, you don't play in front of more than 20,000 people like here. Joan Peñarroya

You can read Peñarroya's full statement in a separate article.

Who will officiate the derby?

The game will be officiated by Spaniard Carlos Peruga, Frenchman Mehdi Difallah, and Lithuanian Gytis Vilius. All three have already had the opportunity to referee games involving Belgrade teams this season.

This match holds significantly greater competitive importance for Red Star, who are still fighting for a playoff spot, while Partizan has lost all chances even for the play-in.