I extended my football trip into Eastern Europe. By rental car, I collected my purchased tickets for the first match in the evening at Partizan from a shopping mall in Nova Beograd.
We booked a hotel in the city centre and it was insane to find a parking spot overnight to say the least. In the end, I was glad that I finally arrived and met up with Micha. We had late lunch in the old town touristic cobblestone street. Overall, I have not expected that most of buildings are that rundown and there was waste everywhere you go.
In the evening, there was the European cup match at Partizan‘s ground with very good atmosphere from the home ultras and great fireworks on both ends at the beginning of the match from the outside of the stadium. Away fans from Sparta Prague were not allowed to travel due to COVID, however around 100 were in the away end but quite for the entire 90mins. Partizan dominated the match and went through to the next round. Conference League is a great competition for these clubs and another option in terms of available cup fixtures.
After the match, we walked the 45mins back into town and found a great craft beer bar called SAMO PIVO.
All in all, great to see the city once, but „it’s not Bel and not Grade“.
