Partizan vs Getafe – News and Probable Lineups

With a two-goal deficit to overcome and a club struggling off the pitch, Partizan must mount a European comeback this Thursday evening to turn around Getafe’s 3-1 first-leg lead and secure a place in the Europa Conference League group stage at the Partizan Stadium.

Jose Bordalas’ team needs only to avoid a loss to guarantee their advancement into the main draw. Given that Getafe recently achieved a victory in La Liga, they arrive with plenty of confidence.

Match overview

Heading into the second leg on Thursday, Partizan finds themselves in urgent need of a turnaround, having suffered a 3-1 defeat against Getafe in Spain in the first encounter, which means they need to win by at least two goals to force extra time, or by three goals to progress directly.

Partizan has had a lackluster beginning in the Sérvian SuperLiga. They currently sit 12th after five matches, claiming only one victory and accumulating four points, having netted seven goals while conceding nine—an underwhelming record that amplifies the challenge they face against Getafe.

Additionally, the turmoil off the field has done little to alleviate the mounting pressure on the club, as coach Sasa Ilic resigned immediately after a 3-1 loss to Mladost Lucani in league play, although he was ultimately persuaded to remain in charge for this fixture. Thus, Thursday’s match may be his last regardless of the outcome.

The entire board of the club has also formally taken responsibility for the season’s poor performance, with all members expected to resign immediately following the conclusion of the second leg.

Conversely, European competition has offered some reasons for hope, as Partizan secured four victories out of five Conference League matches before the first leg. They will need to channel that form to feature in the main draw of European competition for the first time since the knockout stage appearance in the 2022-23 Conference League.

On the other hand, Getafe comes into the match having already done the hard work in the first leg. They travel to Belgrade needing merely to maintain solid defense to advance, with Enes Unal’s opener in the ninth minute creating a positive atmosphere before Demba Seck equalized for Partizan. However, Andres Garcia and Johan Mojica scored late in the match to give Bordalas’ side a significant advantage.

This result accompanied a fruitful beginning to their La Liga campaign, as Getafe rebounded from an opening-day loss to Alaves with their first win of the season against Racing Santander last weekend.

Thursday marks a significant milestone for the Madrid-based club, given that their last appearance in European football was in the 2019-20 Europa League, which culminated in a 2-0 defeat to Inter de Milan in the Round of 16. Progressing in this match would signify their return to international competition.

Team News

Partizan may need to make a change in goal for the second leg, with Milos Krunic likely to take over from Marko Milosevic as the starting goalkeeper.

It is anticipated that Igor Miladinovic will feature in the midfield alongside Ognjen Ugresic and Milan Aleksic, creating the crucial engine room for what must be an aggressive performance from the onset.

Chaka Traore is expected to start out wide, while Erik Kojzek is set to spearhead the attack as Partizan seeks to find the goals they struggled to secure for significant stretches during the first leg.

Meanwhile, Getafe continues to be without Christantus Uche, who is recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained during a preseason friendly against Monaco, and he remains unavailable for the foreseeable future.

Juanmi is still on his path to recovery from a long-term injury and is not expected to return until November.

Francho Serrano made his La Liga debut against Racing Santander over the weekend and is expected to feature again on Thursday, offering an encouraging addition to Bordalas’ midfield options.

David Soria is likely to continue as the goalkeeper, with Unal leading the attack after finding the net in two straight games, while Mojica is expected to retain his position following a standout performance in the first leg.

Partizan probable starting XI:

Krunic; Nwulu, Milic, Mitrovic, Milovanovic; Ugresic, Aleksic, Cumic, Miladinovic, Traore, Kojzek

Getafe probable starting XI:

Soria; Romero, Djene, Sazonov; Mojica, Serrano, Mangala, Terrats, Garcia; Satriano, Unal

Partizan faces an uphill battle, further complicated by the burdens of a club mired in institutional upheaval, and without a victory in their last three matches across all competitions, it seems unlikely they can deliver the kind of attacking display needed to achieve a three-goal turnaround.

Getafe possesses both the experience and defensive stability inherent in Jose Bordalas’ system to navigate this challenge, and with a two-goal advantage to safeguard, the visitors are well-placed to progress.