Shamrock Rovers -v- Partizan Belgrade

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Aug 18 2011


Shamrock Rovers face Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night as they attempt to become the first Irish side to qualify for the group stages of a European competition. (Kick off, 7.45pm)

Rovers embark on their fifth tie in European competition this season as the Europa League enters it’s final stage before the group stages are drawn up, and the obstacle to their progress is the winners of the last four Serbian league titles.

Partizan have dominated their domestic league in recent years and in their four title winning seasons they have also managed to add three Serbian Cups. Aleksandar Stanojevic’s men also opened their latest league campaign with a 5-0 win over FK Novi Pazar last Saturday, a game that Rovers’ boss Michael O’Neill attended.

Speaking before the game, O’Neill was clearly impressed with Partizan’s creativity, particularly in midfield. “They have very good players in the middle of the park, Sasa Ilic is one. Vukic is another player with great technical ability who’s played at some of the top clubs in Europe. They play a very technical kind of game with a lot of movement through the middle of the park. I think if we can manage to stifle that it will give us a good platform to go and play from there.”

Partizan have played almost 200 European games throughout their history and reached the European Cup final in 1966 when they lost 2-1 to Real Madrid. More recently they reached the last 16 of the Champion’s League in 2004/05 and made it to the Group stages last season where they failed to win a single point, losing 3-1 (home and away) to Arsenal.

Shamrock Rovers come into the game having lost their last two European games, home and away to FC Copenhagen in the Champion’s League but they will be buoyed by their domestic form. In their last outing they demolished UCD 6-0 at Tallaght and the week prior to that they defeated derby rivals Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

Michael O’Neill will have to plan without three key players for Thursday’s game. Ken Oman remains out having picked up a knee injury against Copenhagen while Stephen O’Donnell and Dean Kelly also miss out through injury. Enda Stevens and Ronan Finn are both rated doubtful with minor knocks but O’Neill is hopeful that both will make the kick off against the Serbian champions.

Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Dean Kelly (groin), Ken Oman (knee), Stephen O’Donnell (hamstring).
Doubtful: Ronan Finn (groin), Enda Stevens (ankle).
Suspended: None.

Partizan Belgrade
Injured: Marko Scepovic.
Doubtful: Eduardo.
Suspended: Zvonimir Vukic.

Paddy Power Odds: Rovers 3/1; Draw 23/10; Partizan 5/6.
Extratime prediction: a 2-1 win for the Serbians.