Crvena Zvezda started the EuroLeague season with two consecutive defeats but have now won four games in a row. Partizan, meanwhile, opened with a perfect 3-0 record before suffering three straight losses. Two teams from the same city, moving in completely different directions, showing just how quickly things can change in the EuroLeague.
Belgrade has always been one of the most fascinating cities in European basketball, with Crvena Zvezda and Partizan attracting enormous attention both because of their passionate supporters and the expectations surrounding their performances. This season, however, the first six EuroLeague rounds have produced a particularly interesting situation. The two Serbian rivals started from completely different positions, only to see their fortunes change dramatically within a matter of weeks.
Crvena Zvezda opened their campaign with two consecutive defeats, raising early concerns about their performances and their ability to meet expectations. What followed, however, was a completely different story. Four consecutive victories against Anadolu Efes, Dubai, ASVEL and Paris Basketball have transformed their position in the standings. Their latest success came with a 90-81 home victory over Paris, with Chima Moneke delivering an excellent performance with 23 points and Jared Butler adding 13. The Serbian side now stand at 4-2, having put their disappointing opening behind them and started to look much more like the team they were expected to be.
Partizan, on the other hand, began the season with three consecutive victories and quickly created a sense of optimism about what they might achieve. However, defeats against Real Madrid, Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce followed, leaving Joan Penarroya’s team with a 3-3 record. The most concerning aspect is not necessarily the defeats themselves, considering the quality of the opposition, but the offensive struggles that have accompanied them. Partizan scored just 76, 55 and 65 points in those three games, averaging only 65.3 points per contest.
The contrast between the two teams is becoming increasingly clear. Crvena Zvezda are beginning to find more solutions and greater consistency, with different players taking responsibility when needed. Against Paris, for example, they built a 19-point advantage by the end of the third quarter and managed to hold on despite a late comeback from the French side. Partizan, meanwhile, have struggled to create quality scoring opportunities against well-organised defenses and have yet to establish the offensive consistency required to compete with the strongest teams in the competition.
Of course, six games are nowhere near enough to determine the direction of an entire season. Partizan have the quality and time to respond, while Crvena Zvezda must prove that their recent performances can be sustained over a longer period. The EuroLeague is a competition where momentum can change very quickly, particularly with a demanding schedule and consecutive games against high-level opponents.
For now, though, the situation in Belgrade looks very different from what it did just a few weeks ago. Crvena Zvezda have four consecutive victories and are moving in the right direction, while Partizan are searching for answers after three straight defeats. Two clubs from the same city, experiencing completely different moments, and providing another example of how unpredictable the EuroLeague can be.