(foto: Uradni facebook profil kluba)
Serbian football clubs are struggling in European competitions, with a record of 19 matches and 15 losses this season. What is going wrong?
Once again, Serbian football clubs are facing stiff competition in European tournaments, and the results are nothing short of disastrous. With five teams representing Serbia this season, the majority of matches have ended in defeat, a recurring theme that continues to haunt Serbian football on the continental stage.
The situation is nothing new.
Last season was labeled "historic" for all the wrong reasons, as Serbian clubs suffered a record number of losses, causing a significant drop in the country's club coefficient ranking, slipping from 11th to 20th place. This season, with five representatives once again attempting to conquer Europe, it’s clear that something is fundamentally wrong. Defeats have become the norm, and victories are rare.
The latest failure comes from TSC, who suffered their third loss in as many European matches this season, following two heavy defeats in the Europa League playoff against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. After losing their Conference League opener 0-1 to Astana, the club from Bačka Topola now holds a goal difference of 1-9 across three matches.
The numbers are damning:
Serbian clubs in Europe (2024/2025 season)
- Matches played: 19
- Wins: 3
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 15
- Goal difference: 14-39
In the Champions League, Crvena Zvezda has faced the toughest opposition, suffering three defeats (against Bodo, Benfica, and Inter) while earning a single victory against the Norwegian side to secure a place in the group stage. Their goal difference across these matches stands at 4-8.
Meanwhile, Partizan has endured a nightmare of a European season, being knocked out of qualifying for the Champions League, then the Europa League, and finally the Conference League. Their campaign ended with a single draw, five losses, and a goal difference of 4-14.
Vojvodina and Radnički Kragujevac have only added to the overall disappointment, contributing four more defeats and two victories to Serbia's dismal European tally.
Despite investments in new stadiums and improved pitches, the quality of Serbian football continues to decline, with no end in sight to this downward spiral. The question remains: how can we stop the sinking ship?