Zvezda revel in Partizan misery

Derby victory
October saw Walter Zenga's team, now settled on a 4-4-2 formation, pick up four wins in the league and two more in the Serbo-Montenegrin Cup. Most importantly, they added to an unbeaten Belgrade derby run stretching back to 1996 with a 2-0 victory against FK Partizan.

Confidence high
That game on 15 October was decided by goals from left-back Aleksandar Luković and midfielder Marko Perović, and was a sure sign that Zenga's men are brimming with confidence. They have scored 32 goals in eleven league outings.

Partizan problems
Partizan, by contrast, are having a miserable time. Eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Cup and most recently - on 26 October - the Serbo-Montenegrin Cup, where they fell to third-division FK Timok 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 home draw.

Röber appointed
That was not the first poor result for new Partizan coach Jürgen Röber who took over from Vladimir Vermezović on 7 October. The 2-0 reverse at Crvena Zvezda preceded a 3-2 home defeat by second-placed FK Voždovac, although they won 2-0 at FK Borac in their latest match.

Supporter unrest
Partizan's problems have been exacerbated by divisions between supporters and directors. With fans boycotting games, and even organising a march in protest against the team's results, Röber has tried to bring peace but has had little chance reconciling the two parties.

OFK challenge
Voždovac are a point above third-placed Partizan and five behind Crvena Zvezda. However, OFK Beograd - who recently parted with coach Branko Babić - will go second if they win their game in hand against FK Zeta on Wednesday.

Cup quarter-finals
Meanwhile, the last eight of the Serbo-Montenegrin Cup will see some familiar names - Crvena Zvezda, OFK, FK Smederevo and FK Hajduk Kula - take on less illustrious opponents in the form of second division FK Vlasina and FK Radnički Niš, third division Timok and fourth division FK Kolubara. Weather permitting, the quarter-finals will be played in December.