Crvena Zvezda to Face Austrian Giants Salzburg in High-Profile Friendly

ANTALYA, TURKEY – FK Crvena Zvezda’s intense winter preparation campaign in Antalya is set to reach a fever pitch this week as they prepare for a highly anticipated friendly match against Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday, January 15th.

The clash with Salzburg represents the most significant test of the camp so far for Red Star, who have already secured strong victories against FC Aarau (4-1) and Debrecen VSC (3-1) as they look to build momentum ahead of the SuperLiga restart.

Key Test for Stanković’s Squad

The match, scheduled for a 15:00 CET kickoff, will provide a vital gauge of the team’s readiness for the second half of the season. Red Bull Salzburg is a top-tier European side known for its high-pressing, attacking style, and this fixture offers an opportunity for head coach Dejan Stanković to assess his tactics and player conditioning against quality opposition.

While the results of friendlies are secondary to performance, a positive showing against a team like Salzburg—whom Crvena Zvezda famously eliminated from Champions League qualifiers in 2018—would provide a massive psychological boost for the squad.

Focus on Form and Fitness

Despite recent friendly successes, the Crveno-beli camp has been affected by the departure of key midfielder Mirko Ivanić, who has returned to Belgrade for treatment on a leg injury. This places an even greater emphasis on the remaining players to step up against the Austrian side.

Stanković is expected to utilize the match to give game time to a broad range of players, testing tactical variations and determining his strongest starting XI. The game will be a crucial step in fine-tuning the team before the competitive domestic fixtures resume.