SSL: Partizan v Napredak preview

Winter break is over and Partizan restarts the season home to Napredak (Saturday, 5pm CET) as part of Linglong Tire Serbian Super League round 20 fixtures.

H2H (last six):

Partizan 2, Napredak 2, Drawn 2. Gd: 10-9, Partizan.

TEAM NEWS

Nemanja Stevanovic (shoulder surgery) is sidelined, Filip Stevanovic (fitness), Aleksandar Popovic (fatigue) and Slobodan Urosevic (fatigue) are all back from international tour, while Nikola Stulic is recovering from injury sustained during winter preps.

Partizan boss Aleksandar Stanojevic ahead of season`s restart:

-We look good, but once the games kick-off we`ll be able to see if missed on something. I rarely say this, but I`m really pleased with our winter preps. Each player picked up his form 30 percent and, as a result, we have more players competing for the starting line-up. Moreover, 5 or 6 players are now in competitive pace contrary to the first part of the season. At the same time, we increased intensity both in attack and in defence but we`ll see what we did once the games kick-off.

We signed great number of players in summer transfer window. We expected some departures now, Zdjelar looked like leaving, Soumah had offers, but the club didn`t let Soumah go.  Therefore, we decided not to go for defensive midfielder, as Zdjelar is still here, and we postponed search for attacker as Stulic picked up during winter preps and Bahebeck is picking up pace.

We have two right-backs now, Zivkovic and Miljkovic, so Bagnack can move back central. I`m close to pick Miljkovic or Lutovac for the opening game, depending on Miljkovic`s fitness. We`ll make 3 or 4 subs during game over the next 2 or 3 games to make things clear in the future. I expect more regular line-up after this early period.