National Cup: Napredak v Partizan preview

Partizan is away to Napredak Krusevac on Wednesday (3.30pm CET kick-off) as part of one-legged National Cup last 8 fixtures.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Napredak and Partizan met four times in national cup so far:

National Cup qualifiers, November 1949: Napredak – Partizan: 2-3

Last 32, November 1970: Napredak – Partizan: 0-0 (Napredak won penalty shoot-out)

Last 16, November 1980: Partizan – Napredak: 5-0

Last 32, September 2016: Partizan – Napredak: 3-1

TEAM NEWS

Markovic and Nije are still sidelined due to their respective injuries, last weekend`s absentees Stojkovic and NR Miletic recovered from knocks, Tosic is doubtful.

Caretaker coach Zarko Lazetic on upcoming encounter:

-Of course, this is greatest challenge for me so far, this crisis are my opportunity so to speak. We are not seeing this as tragedy or end of the world, we all know what Partizan is and in these hard times we have to show why we are part of this club. Regardless of what you might read in some press, we will look fine on the pitch, trying to show more of Partizan from our early days after the winter break.

We respect Napredak, their coach is the most experienced one in this league. They have trademark playing style and although they had a poor restart of the season they won an important points against Vojvodina last weekend. Napredak is always motivated against Partizan and now, after departure of Mirkovic and Iliev, it`s time for me and the players to take the responsibility and do what is expected from us.

                                       National Cup last 8 full fixtures

Wednesday, March 13

14.00, Spartak ZK – Mladost

15.30, Napredak – Partizan (Arena Sport TV1 LIVE)

17.00, Radnički Nis – Vojvodina

18.00, Crvena Zvezda – Zemun (Arena Sport TV1 LIVE)