Hibernian vs Partizan Belgrade
Hibernian
Hibernian’s Season Outlook
Hibernian concluded their previous season in third place, notably trailing far behind Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic. This outcome spurred the club to prioritize significant squad reinforcement for the current campaign. Recent Form and Struggles
Despite their ambitions, Hibernian’s pre-season friendly performances were rather underwhelming, managing only a solitary victory in their last six outings. While they showed promise against a Danish second-tier side, even taking that match to extra time, they ultimately succumbed at home. This poor form seems to have carried over, as demonstrated by their inability to secure a win against Kilmarnock in their most recent fixture, despite holding a two-goal lead at home.
Partizan Belgrade
Partizan’s Current Predicament
Partizan Belgrade, historically among Serbia’s elite clubs, is currently facing significant challenges. Their struggle could potentially see them miss out entirely on European club competitions, including even the less prominent tournaments. European Disappointment and Domestic Resurgence
Partizan enjoyed a respectable series of friendly matches against Russian clubs. However, their European aspirations hit a snag when they failed to progress past AEK Larnaca. Despite having genuine opportunities to eliminate the Cypriot side, they ultimately proved the weaker team, notably struggling with penalty kicks even with strong home support. This disappointing European exit appears to have sparked a turnaround in their domestic form, as they emphatically scored seven goals in their most recent Serbian league fixture, securing victories in all three opening rounds of the championship. Match Outlook and Team News
Hibernian’s current form remains somewhat enigmatic. Despite a slight increase in resources, which initially seemed to yield positive results, the Scottish side has shown inconsistent performances in their domestic league, struggling to overcome weaker opponents. Their early exit from the Europa League, notably failing to secure a home win in that competition, further complicates their profile. Key players Newell, Cadden, Chaiwa, and Molotnikov are all expected to be unavailable for this fixture.