The champion is known, it remains open – who will lift the trophy intended for the winner of the Serbian Cup for the 2023/24 season: Crvena zvezda or Vojvodina?
One thing is certain, the final scheduled for May 23 in Loznica will take place in red and white tones, notes – the people of Belgrade would embrace the double crown with an eventual triumph.
The stake, from the point of view of the European visa, is more significant for Vojvodina – it would have a passage (at least) to the Conference League.
The cup flame will especially burn in the hearts of the players with the honor of wearing the jerseys of both clubs, by looking at the squads – there are eight of them, let’s underline – only Mirko Ivanić lifted the cups with Crvena zvezda and Vojvodina!
The champagne is ready, who will celebrate in less than a month – Delije or Firma?
ALL THREE STARS IN THE FINAL AGAINST LAL
If it is according to tradition, the absolute favorite on May 23 in Loznica will be – Red Star!
The defending champion won in all three mutual finals with Vojvodina: in a double-header in 1997, and in 2007 and 2010 on a neutral ground – Partizan’s stadium.
THE CITIZENS OF BELGRADE WITH 27 CUPS, THE NEW PLANTS WITH TWO
And the numbers are on the side of Crvena Zvezda – 27 trophies in the most massive competition, compared to “only” two for Vojvodina.
The people of Belgrade rejoiced 12 times in the Cup of Yugoslavia (1948, 1949, 1950, 1958, 1959, 1964, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1982, 1985, 1990), seven times in the Cup of FR Yugoslavia (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002), twice in the SCG Cup (2004, 2006) and six times in the Serbian Cup (2010, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2023).
On the other hand, the Novi Sad team was “lucky” only in the Serbian Cup (2014, 2020).
The Marakana club suffered 13 defeats in the finals: 1952, 1954, 1992, 2001, 2017 and 2019 against Partizan, 1973, 1984 and 1991 against Hajduk, 1980 against Dinamo, 1998 against Borca from Banja Luka, 2003 from Sartida and in 2005 from Železnik.
The tulips, on the other hand, left the final performance six times with bowed heads: in 1951 (Dinamo), 1997, 2007 and 2010 (Crvena zvezda), 2011 (Partizan) and 2013 (Jagodina).
3 Eight at Marakana and “Karađorđe”
EIGHT AT MARACANA AND “KARAĐORĐ”
Eight of the current first teams of Crvena zvezda and Vojvodina played in both camps.
Days at “Karađorđe” are remembered by three trumps Vladan Milojević: Zoran Popovic (2013), Mirko Ivanic (until 2016, 56 games and 20 goals) i Alexander Katai (until 2011 and in the 2012/13 season, 60 matches and 12 goals).
The honor of playing in Crvena Zvezda was experienced by five first team members of Lal: Stefan Djordjevic (2014/15, three games), Njegoš Petrović (2019-2021; 64/2), Vukan Savićević (until 2015; 40/4), Andrija Radulović (2020-2023; 11/1) i Aleksa Vukanović (2019-2022; 55/11).
IVANIĆ CELEBRATED WITH LALA
Mirko Ivanić believe it or not, he lifted the Serbian Cup trophy four times, in addition to a hat-trick with Red Star – once and with Vojvodina (2014).
In the Belgrade camp, they have three gold medals Zoran Popović, Milan Rodić, Gelor Kanga and Alexander Kataitwo Aleksandar Dragović, Miloš Degenek, Nemanja Milunović, Srđan Mijailović (2012 and 2023!), one Uroš Spajić, Lazar Nikolic, Osman Bukari…
The winners of the Serbian Cup with Vojvodina in 2020 thanks to their triumph over Partizan in Niš were Igor Jeličić, Stefan Đorđević and Dejan Zukic. Trilling Lala celebrated the trophy twice while playing for Red Star – Njegoš Petrović, Aleksa Vukanović and Andrija Radulović.
SHERIFF TOP SHOOTER
The best chances for the flattering epithet of the best scorer of the Serbian Cup in the 2023/24 season. has Sheriff Endiaso far – with three shots on target.
The center forward of Crvena zvezda scored against Trajal, Niš Radnički and OFK Vršac, he scored only in the semi-final with Partizan.
By the way, the executors for the defender of the trophy were i Sljivić, Knežević and Cathay (two each), Lucic, Kraso, Bukari, Olanjinka and Mijatovićwhile Filipovic from Partizan authorized an own goal.
The scorers for Vojvodina were, on the other hand Dejan Zukic (2), Vukanović, Savićević and Koracyou Miletic and Vukicnow in Voždovac, i.e. Niš Radnički.
BANDOVIĆ AND MILOJEVIĆ CONQUERORS AS PLAYERS
Common for trainers – Vladan Milojević and Bozidar Bandović: they won the cup with Crvena zvezda as players, the first – in 1996, the second – in 1993, interestingly – celebrating in the finals against Partizan.
Milojevic he still doesn’t have a cup with Red Star, but he celebrated in 2015 leading Čukarički, he was better than Steamroller at the Maracana.
COMPLETE IN THE FINAL
Cards will not be an obstacle for anyone to participate in the final!
Marko Stamenic and Peter Olaninka they got a yellow card against Partizan, for the first time in the competition. Aleksandar Dragovićwith one caveat, managed to save himself, Nikola Knezevic he did the suspension in the quarterfinals.
No one from the Vojvodina camp was recorded in the referee’s notebook in the semi-final against Radnički 1923 in Kragujevac.
FIRM CLOSER TO LOZNICA
The newly built “Lagator” stadium in Loznica, designated by the FSS as the epicenter of the final performance, looks magnificent and has a capacity of 8,053 seats.
It is 143.4 kilometers from Belgrade, 126.8 kilometers from Novi Sad. So it is closer to Firma than to Delia!
According to the provisions, video technology is necessary for the final, Article 20 reads: “VAR must be applied in the semi-final and final matches. If the host club in the semi-final match of the Cup does not have the conditions for the application of VAR technology, it will play the match in a stadium where there are conditions for it, which it is obliged to inform the Competition Commission about at the latest 7 (seven) days before playing that match.
10 MILLION DINARS TO THE WINNER
If there are no changes, the winner of the Serbian Cup for the 2023/24 season. will earn as much as last year – 10 million dinars.
Let’s remind you that in the previous three years, the check went to the account of Crvena zvezda, before that – Vojvodina.
JOVANOVIĆ HAT-TRICK?
As the final approaches, the question will become increasingly interesting: who will referee the match between Crvena Zvezda and Vojvodina?
Until now, he had the honor of being in the center twice in the final performance of the most massive competition Srdjan Jovanovic – in 2021 and 2022, while the players were taken out to the field once each Novak Simovic (2019) and Milan Mitic (2023).
In the semi-finals, justice was served Miloš Milanović (Red Star – Partizan) and Maboutmchilo Markovic (Worker’s 1923 – Vojvodina).
