From the early days of Yugoslav basketball to dramatic EuroLeague battles, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda have spent generations fighting for supremacy in Belgrade. Their latest showdown delivered another unforgettable chapter, as Partizan defeated its city rival 85–82 in overtime on October 22, 2026, in front of a passionate crowd at Belgrade Arena.
Few rivalries in European basketball carry the history, emotion and intensity of the battle between Partizan Mozzart Bet and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet. Known as the Eternal Derby, the matchup is much more than a basketball game. It is a contest between two institutions whose identities have become deeply embedded in the sporting culture of Belgrade and Serbia.
For generations, supporters of the black-and-white Partizan and the red-and-white Crvena Zvezda have measured their seasons by these encounters. Championships matter, European success matters, but beating the biggest rival can become the moment fans remember most.
The rivalry began in the years immediately following World War II, when both basketball clubs were established in 1945. As Yugoslav basketball developed into one of Europe’s strongest systems for producing players, the two Belgrade clubs became central figures in domestic competition.
Two Clubs, Two Great Basketball Traditions
Partizan quickly built a reputation for developing elite talent and competing on the European stage. Its greatest international achievement came in 1992, when the club won the European championship under coach Željko Obradović, with a young generation of players including Predrag Danilović and Aleksandar Đorđević.
That title remains one of the defining achievements in Serbian and former Yugoslav club basketball history. It established Partizan as a European force and strengthened the club’s international identity.
Crvena Zvezda developed its own distinguished tradition, winning numerous domestic championships and producing generations of players who represented Yugoslavia and later Serbia at international competitions.
The club’s basketball history includes 24 national league championships, 15 national cup titles and seven ABA League championships, according to its official history. Its continental honors include the European Cup Winners’ Cup, won in 1974.
The two clubs built their reputations in different eras and competitions, but their proximity in Belgrade ensured that their paths continually crossed. Every meeting became another opportunity to claim bragging rights in a city where basketball is part of the cultural landscape.
The Rivalry Through the Yugoslav Era
During the Yugoslav period, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda competed in a national basketball system that regularly produced players and teams capable of challenging Europe’s best.
Their encounters were part of a broader sporting rivalry that extended across football, basketball and other sports. Both organizations attracted devoted supporters, and the derby became one of the country’s defining sporting events.
The atmosphere surrounding the games often extended beyond the court. Fans identified strongly with their clubs’ colors, histories and neighborhoods, while victories in major domestic competitions carried significance far beyond the final score.
As Yugoslavia dissolved during the 1990s, basketball changed alongside the political and sporting landscape. Serbia remained a major basketball nation, and the two Belgrade clubs continued their competition through new domestic structures and European tournaments.
A New Era: The ABA League and European Basketball
The development of the Adriatic Basketball Association League, commonly known as the ABA League, added another major dimension to the rivalry by bringing together leading clubs from across the former Yugoslav region.
Partizan and Crvena Zvezda repeatedly met in decisive games, including ABA League finals that demonstrated just how closely matched the teams could be.
The 2022 final series went to Crvena Zvezda, which won 3–2. Partizan responded in 2023, taking the championship series 3–2 in a five-game contest. In 2024, Crvena Zvezda swept Partizan 3–0 to claim another regional title.
Those series illustrated one of the defining features of the rivalry: momentum rarely stays with one team for long. Even when one club wins the regular season or enters a final with greater confidence, the derby frequently produces unexpected results.
The rivalry reached another milestone in December 2022, when Partizan and Crvena Zvezda met for the first time in the EuroLeague, Europe’s premier club basketball competition.
Crvena Zvezda won that historic encounter 76–73 on the road after Nemanja Nedović hit a decisive three-pointer with 2.2 seconds remaining. The finish immediately became one of the memorable moments in the rivalry’s European history.
Since then, their EuroLeague encounters have added a new international dimension to a rivalry that had already been shaped by decades of domestic competition.
October 22, 2026: Partizan Wins Another Dramatic Derby
The latest chapter came Thursday night at Belgrade Arena, where Partizan defeated Crvena Zvezda 85–82 after overtime in Round 7 of the 2026–27 EuroLeague season.
Partizan made the stronger start, establishing a double-digit lead in the opening quarter and taking a 52–38 advantage into halftime. The home team extended its lead to 18 points early in the third quarter, putting Crvena Zvezda under considerable pressure.
But the visitors refused to surrender.
Crvena Zvezda gradually reduced the deficit, improving defensively and finding more effective scoring opportunities. By the final stages of regulation, the red-and-whites had erased the lead, tying the game at 75–75 and forcing overtime.
The additional five minutes produced another momentum shift. Crvena Zvezda moved ahead 81–77 and appeared close to completing a remarkable comeback.
Partizan responded under pressure. Carlik Jones hit a crucial three-pointer to bring the score level at 82–82, before Alessandro Pajola connected from long range to give Partizan an 85–82 lead. Crvena Zvezda had one final opportunity to force another tie but could not convert.
Carlik Jones finished with 26 points to lead Partizan, while Chris Jones scored 22 for Crvena Zvezda.
The final score gave Partizan another important European victory over its greatest domestic rival and extended its EuroLeague head-to-head advantage to six wins against three for Crvena Zvezda since their first meeting in the competition in 2022.
More Than Basketball
The Eternal Derby is defined by much more than trophies, statistics or the standings.
It brings together generations of supporters, many of whom grew up attending games with parents and grandparents. For some, allegiance to Partizan or Crvena Zvezda is a family tradition; for others, it represents a personal connection to Belgrade, Serbian sport and the wider basketball community.
The atmosphere can be intense, with both clubs regularly drawing large crowds and their games attracting attention throughout the region. The rivalry has also produced contentious moments, heated exchanges and disciplinary incidents, underscoring the importance of maintaining safe and respectful conditions for players and spectators.
Yet it is precisely the combination of history, quality and unpredictability that continues to make the matchup compelling.
For international basketball fans, the derby offers a glimpse into a sporting culture in which supporters can be as recognizable a part of the spectacle as the players themselves. For Serbia, it reflects a longstanding tradition of producing elite basketball talent and sustaining a passionate club competition.
The Next Chapter Is Already Waiting
Partizan and Crvena Zvezda will continue to compete for domestic trophies, regional titles and European recognition throughout the season. Their next meeting will bring another set of tactical questions, individual matchups and opportunities for one side to shift the balance.
The result on October 22 belongs to Partizan, but the wider rivalry cannot be defined by one night or one championship. Its history stretches across generations, political changes, different competitions and some of the most memorable moments in Balkan basketball.
That is what makes the Eternal Derby special: each game stands on its own, while adding another story to a rivalry that neither club can afford to ignore.
In Belgrade, the final buzzer ends the game—but the rivalry never really ends.
