Revamped rivals aim for Serbian crown

FK Crvena Zvezda and FK Partizan are again the favourites to win the Serbian Superliga, which starts tomorrow, but FK Vojvodina - champions of Yugoslavia in 1966 and 1989 - may just break their domination.

Champions' changes
Belgrade's big two have taken every league title since 1997/98, dating back to the former Yugoslavia, with Crvena Zvezda claiming the first separate Serbian championship last term and the final Serbo-Montenegrin crown the year before. Yet they made a surprise move today by replacing coach Boško Djurovski with Milorad Kosanović. Forwards Dušan Djokić and Milan Purović have also left, along with midfielder Blagoy Georgiev, but Ecuador striker Franklin Salas, experienced Colombia midfielder Mauricio Molina and Argentinian attacker Hernán Barcos have added South American sparkle.

High hopes
With Portuguese midfielder João Nuno Lukas also arriving from Boavista FC, Crvena Zvezda's Serbian international right-winger Ognjen Koroman can look forward to the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie against Rangers FC with confidence. "Domestic trophies are an obligation, but our first target is qualification for the Champions League. If we do that, this season will be one of the best in our history."

Partizan focus
Partizan coach Miroslav Djukić, fresh from leading Serbia at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, has rung the changes with captain Milan Smiljanić's transfer to RCD Espanyol among ten departures. Replacements include U21 left-winger Zoran Tošić, Senegalese striker Lamine Diarra, goalkeeper Darko Božovic and Portuguese playmaker Almani Moreira. There has been a setback with the club's expulsion from the UEFA Cup following crowd trouble during their first qualifying round defeat of Bosnia-Herzegovina's NK Zrinjski, but Djukić said: "After our suspension from Europe, we have to focus on the domestic scene and I believe in this team – we are ready for our best season."

New format
Vojvodina, third in 2006/07, continue to fly the flag in the UEFA Cup with Club Atlético de Madrid their second qualifying round opponents. The Novi Sad outfit will have a similar squad to the one that impressed last term. They face an immediate test with the visit of Partizan. Promoted FK Mladost Lučani, FK Čukarički and FK Napredak are all familiar with top-flight football but FK Mladost Apatin, sixth last season, have dropped out for financial reasons. That allowed Napredak to step up a level despite having lost the relegation/promotion play-off to FK Borac. There is also a new format to the Superliga, with clubs no longer being split into two groups of six after 22 games; now each team will meet the other eleven sides three times.