EL: Partizan v Viktoria Plzen preview

Partizan restarts the season on Thursday with a Last 16 EL home encounter against Czech champions Viktoria Plzen, 9.05pm kick-off.

TEAM NEWS

Recently injured Sasa Zdjelar is not fit to play yet but forward Ozegovic recovered for this one.

Over the years, Partizan had a number of meetings with Czechoslovakian and Czech Republic clubs. Actually, first international game in our club`s history was played in October 1945 against Prague XI who won that friendly 4-1.

Czechs played significant role in the world of football in the sixties especially ( WC 1962 runners-up) and here`s round-up of all competitive games Partizan played against Czechoslovakian or Czech Republic sides over the years:

MITROPA CUP

5^th of July, 1959: Banik Ostrava – Partizan 1-1

11^th of July, 1959: Partizan – Banik Ostrava: 3-2

28^th of September, 1977: Partizan – Zbrojovka Brno: 5-1

29^th of March, 1978: Zbrojovka Brno – Partizan: 2-3

CHAMPIONS CUP

2^nd of March, 1966: Sparta Prague – Partizan: 4-1

9^th of March: 1966: Partizan –Sparta Prague: 5-0

UEFA CUP

31^st of October, 2002: Partizan – Slavia Prague: 3-1

14^th of November, 2002: Slavia Prague – Partizan: 5-1

TEAM NEWS

Recently injured Sasa Zdjelar is not fit to play yet but forward Ozegovic recovered for this one.

Partizan in European competitions, 1945-2018

Boss Miroslav Djukic and left-back Milan Mitrovic attended pre-match press-conference.

Miroslav Djukic:

− We had no luck with injuries during winter preps as lots of players were not able to have training continuity, but that`s how it is. All our players have needed quality and I expect those who will be fielded to give their best. I also expect top class game and organized Partizan side with winning mentality. We are aware how important this tie is and we know how hard it`s going to be against Viktoria, they are one serious opponent but so are we. We`ll be out there not afraid to win it, with faith in ourselves.

Any result without a goal conceded is fine. We`ll try to win it here and we`ll try to win it away as well. Partizan is always out there to try and win it.

We did team and individual scouting of Viktoria but we always focus on ourselves, regardless of the opponent.

Milan Mitrovic:

− I played lots of games in my career but this is definitely the most important one and I hope for our good result. We are all aware of the game`s importance and it would mean a lot if we restart the season with a win.

Michal Krmencik is Czech`s league top goalscorer and it says enough about him. It will be tough but these are kind of games that produce two or three good opportunities and I believe he will not get onto the scoresheet.