Serbia chase UEFA Cup hat-trick

Borac through
Borac secured a 2-1 aggregate victory over PFC Lokomotiv Sofia on Tuesday night, and Crvena Zvezda will look to join them on the next step of the road to the group stage. They were held 2-2 by APOEL FC in Cyprus in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie a fortnight ago but as the action switches to Belgrade they are boosted by three new players. Nikola Petković has arrived from Gençlerbirligi SK while former Vojvodina team-mate Nino Pekarić is back in Serbia after a spell with FC Dinamo Bucureşti. Meanwhile, Nikola Lazetić has returned to Crvena Zvezda after a 14-year absence, having represented Fenerbahçe SK and Torino FC among others. "We really need success in this game and that will give us some positive momentum," said coach Zděnek Zeman. "In the first match in Nicosia we were the better team, but that is not enough. Finally we are going to play our first game of the season at home, though, and I expect us to qualify."

Vojvodina test
Vojvodina have similar intentions, but having drawn 0-0 at home against Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC in the first leg, the tie looks to be slipping away from them. Defender Aleksandar Mijatović will miss the game through suspension, with coach Dragoljub Bekvalac likely to turn to Joseph Nestory Kizito in Tel Aviv. "Last season we were eliminated in this round and now we have the wish and the duty to go a step further," said the coach. "This will be a new chess game between the teams – whoever shows better concentration will win. The long trip to Israel is only one problem at the moment, but I have faith in my young players."