Partizan suffered a devastating 3-1 defeat to Getafe in Madrid after conceding two late goals while holding a man advantage, leaving the Serbian side needing a near-miracle in next week’s UEFA Conference League playoff return leg in Belgrade.
What was meant to be a gritty survival mission in Spain turned into a cruel tactical lesson on the punishment of missed chances. Playing away at the Coliseum stadium, Partizan absorbed heavy early pressure but found themselves level at halftime. Yet, a dramatic second-half shift that briefly handed the visitors numerical advantage and momentum ultimately disintegrated into a defensive collapse in the game’s dying minutes.
Early Stumbles and the Missed Opportunities That Cost Partizan
Partizan initially took to the pitch to survive, not to trade blows, deploying a reinforced backline designed to frustrate Getafe’s attack. The strategy largely succeeded in stunting open play, though defensive lapses proved costly early on. Milošević made an early save in the 3rd minute, but Unal capitalized on a sleeping defense in the 10th minute—with Mitrović and Simić caught napping—meeting a precise cross from newcomer Mohika to put the Spanish side ahead 1:0. Getafe lined up in a 3-5-2 formation featuring Sorija in goal; Đene, Abkar, and Romero in defense; Femenija, Terats, Franko Garsija, Mangala, and Mohika in the midfield; alongside Unal and Satrijano up front.
Despite the early blow, the Serbian side refused to fold. In the very next sequence, Že pushed a ball behind the Getafe defense, and Sek reached it before goalkeeper Sorija rushed out 17 meters to make a sliding clearance. Just before the halftime whistle, Sek scored in the 43rd minute to equalize, turning the match on its head and stunning the home crowd. Partizan’s starting lineup featured Milošević in goal; Milić, Mitrović, and Simić across the back; Roganović, Baba, Ugrešić, and Samson in the middle; and a front three of Sek, Že, and Vukotić.
A Man Advantage and a Second-Half Collapse
The visitors emerged from the break as a different team, obviously emboldened by the scoreboard. Growing in confidence, Partizan looked more assertive and freer with the ball, while Roganović completely shut down Mohika. In the 54th minute, Že headed a shot from the six-yard box that struck the crossbar. Eight minutes later, a penalty awarded to Getafe was overturned following a VAR review, which sent a wave of serious nervousness through the Spanish team.
Just after entering the match, Igor Miladinović forced a red card from Abkar. For any other team in the world that would be a dream reward, but for Partizan, it became a punishment. Roganović missed a sitter from the six-yard box, and Čumić hit the post from a tight angle three meters out instead of passing. As Garsija sealed the victory with goals in the 88th and 90th minutes following a defensive collapse, the Spanish side ruthlessly punished every unexploited opening. The match was officiated by referee Andris Triemanis from Latvia.
The Road Ahead in Belgrade
The final scoreline leaves the tournament outlook grim. Getafe’s late surge established a commanding two-goal cushion, exploiting lingering defensive vulnerabilities that continue to plague the Belgrade squad. With the return fixture scheduled in seven days in Belgrade, the team faces an uphill battle to overturn the deficit and secure a spot in the UEFA Conference League.
