Late October on a Sunday evening in Belgrade, and the air is electric with anticipation. The Marakana will be packed, the drums will be thundering, and the Red Star faithful will be baying for blood. But for all the history and tradition that swirls through the stands, there’s something quietly intriguing bubbling beneath the surface of this Superliga clash between Crvena Zvezda and IMT Novi Beograd—a game that, on paper, looks like a routine home win, but one I’m hearing could throw up more drama than the league table suggests.

Crvena Zvezda, the great scarlet empire of Serbian football, is in a curious spot. They’re coming off a 3-0 victory at Napredak, goals flowing from Kostov and Olayinka, but sources inside the club tell me there’s a palpable sense of unfinished business. The loss at Porto in the Europa League exposed defensive frailties that still linger, and even though they bounced back domestically, there’s a restlessness about this side. Marko Arnautović, that wily veteran, is still an integral piece in the final third, and young guns like Peter Olayinka and Vasilije Kostov are eager to make their mark. But recent form has been patchy—W-L-W-L-W—and while the goalscoring has been steady, consistency has been elusive.

IMT Novi Beograd, on the other hand, are the classic underdogs, scrappy, organized, and with nothing to lose. Their recent run—LLWLW—doesn’t exactly scream confidence, but last weekend’s 1-0 win over Spartak Zdrepceva KRV, Sankara Karamoko the hero, suggests a team capable of springing a surprise. Sources close to the dressing room indicate a siege mentality is building: these players are being drilled to close space, frustrate the opposition, and strike on the counter. Against a Red Star team that, despite the goals, isn’t always watertight at the back, you have to wonder if IMT can exploit the Marakana’s high defensive line.

Let’s talk about the men who matter. For Crvena Zvezda, all eyes are on Arnautović—a talisman who can turn a game with a single touch, but whose age means he’s now more of a facilitator than a 90-minute machine. The real firecrackers are Olayinka and Kostov, pacey operators who can terrorize defenses when given space. Behind them, Radonjić’s experience is invaluable, and sources tell me Mirko Ivanić is being monitored for a return to the starting XI after some strong bench performances. The midfield, marshaled by the ever-reliable Nemanja Krstičić, is the heartbeat of this team—strong in possession, but sometimes vulnerable to quick transitions.

IMT’s hopes rest on the broad shoulders of Sankara Karamoko, their Ivorian striker, who’s shown flashes of brilliance. He’s fast, direct, and loves a physical battle. If IMT can get the ball to him early and in space, he could cause problems for Red Star’s sometimes shaky backline. Tactically, I’m hearing IMT’s coach is toying with a compact 5-3-2, flooding the midfield and daring Zvezda to break them down. The key, sources say, is discipline: stay compact, stay patient, and wait for the right moment to spring forward.

Now for the tactical chess match. Zvezda under Dejan Stanković has always played with attacking intent, but there’s a growing belief around the league that this team can be got at if you stay patient. The fullbacks push high, the midfielders look to dictate tempo, but that can leave gaps. The last time Zvezda faced a defensively organized side, they struggled to break them down—witness the Europa League stalemate with Celtic. IMT will look to replicate that blueprint: soak up pressure, frustrate, and strike on the break. If they can keep it tight for the first half hour, the pressure on Zvezda will mount, and the whistles from the stands could get louder.

But let’s not kid ourselves—this is Zvezda’s fortress. The Marakana is more than a stadium; it’s a cauldron, a place where dreams go to die and legends are born. The crowd will be a 12th man, roaring every tackle, cheering every run, reminding IMT that they’re stepping into a place where giants roam. And yet, sources tell me there’s a quiet confidence in the IMT camp. They know the odds, but they also know that football, especially in Serbia, is never just about names on paper.

So, what’s at stake? For Zvezda, three points are non-negotiable. Any slip here, and the murmurs of discontent will grow louder. For IMT, it’s a free hit—a chance to make history, to bloody the nose of the establishment, to show that ambition can sometimes outgun pedigree. The league table says one thing, but the pitch on Sunday night could say something very different.

Prediction? Logic says Zvezda win, probably by two. But I’ve seen enough football to know that logic often takes the night off in Belgrade. If IMT weathers the early storm, if Karamoko gets a sniff of goal, if the whistles start to echo in the dying embers of the first half—then all bets might be off. This is Superliga at its best: raw, unpredictable, and always ready to surprise. Tune in, because you won’t want to miss a second.