EuroLeague panel places Red Star ahead of Partizan after summer changes

A summer EuroLeague ranking placed Red Star above Partizan after their roster changes. Red Star appeared tenth and Partizan thirteenth. The ranking assessed current squads rather than final season positions.

Both Belgrade teams have changed important parts of their rosters. Red Star kept a larger section of its group. Partizan added new backcourt options and young talent under coach Joan Peñarroya.

Red Star kept more continuity

Red Star retained many players from the previous campaign. That continuity reduces the number of new relationships built during pre-season. Returning players already know the club environment. Coach Ibon Navarro also remains part of the project. His presence gives the roster a familiar voice. New arrivals can learn the system beside players who already understand it. The EuroLeague assessment valued that balance. It did not claim that continuity guarantees wins. The season will still test health, form and execution.

Red Star can begin preparation without introducing every role from zero. Returning guards and forwards know common sets. Defensive communication may also develop faster. The panel's tenth place reflects an opinion about summer work. It is not an official table. Red Star's real position will come from games against all nineteen opponents.

Partizan changed important backcourt pieces

Partizan added Carlik Jones and other options around the perimeter. The new group brings creation and speed. It also needs time to establish possession roles. Young players form another part of the roster. Their energy can help across a long season. EuroLeague opponents will test every defensive and decision-making detail. Joan Peñarroya leads that process. Pre-season games give his staff time to test combinations before the EuroLeague begins.

Crvena zvezda players gather during a EuroLeague game.

The panel placed Partizan three positions below Red Star. That gap represents the reviewers' current assessment. It does not add or remove a single league win. Partizan's larger changes create both work and opportunity. New guards can alter the pace of the team. Their connection with the frontcourt will become visible in official games.

The expanded league raises the demand

The EuroLeague now includes twenty clubs. That means a broad schedule and repeated travel. Squad depth becomes important when injuries or fatigue appear. Belgrade derbies remain major events, but most fixtures come against other opponents. Red Star and Partizan will face many playing styles. One summer ranking cannot describe all those matchups. Clubs with stable rosters may begin faster. Teams with larger changes can improve as the season develops. The order can therefore change after the first weeks.

The panel considered recruitment, retained players and overall balance. Those categories formed its summer ranking. Match results will later create the official table. Serbian supporters can read the positions as one external view. Red Star received the higher assessment. Partizan still has a complete pre-season to connect its new pieces.

The first official games will replace the summer ranking

Summer lists arrive before teams face real pressure. They can identify roster strengths and open questions. They cannot measure how players respond during close fourth quarters. New opponents and a longer schedule will test Red Star's continuity. Physical defences will test Partizan's new guards. Official games will show the results of both summer plans. The Belgrade clubs also carry strong home support. Atmosphere can influence momentum without making shots. Away results remain equally important in the standings.

The panel's order is therefore a starting comparison. Red Star stands tenth in the review and Partizan thirteenth. The difference comes from the current view of their summer work. EuroLeague results will provide the direct comparison after the season begins. The summer assessment only describes the two current roster projects.

Belgrade's two projects began from different positions

Red Star chose to retain more of the previous roster and coaching structure. Partizan made changes in several important roles. The panel compared those two summer approaches. Continuity can reduce the time needed for basic coordination. New talent can raise a team's ceiling after roles become clear. Neither approach carries an automatic league result.

The review gave Red Star the higher current grade. Partizan's lower place reflected more open questions around integration. Both clubs still have preparation games before the EuroLeague begins. Supporters can disagree with the order while keeping the facts clear. It is an expert ranking, not an official decision. The regular season starts every club from the same record.

A twenty-team league tests depth across many months

EuroLeague now includes twenty teams. Every club therefore faces more games and longer travel. Injuries can change planned rotations during the expanded schedule. Red Star's returning players offer known combinations during those periods. Partizan's additions offer more new options once they settle. Coaches will decide how to distribute minutes.

Domestic competitions continue alongside the EuroLeague. Belgrade derbies and regional games add further physical demands. Squad depth is therefore more than a list of names. The panel judged the rosters before the season began. Official games will provide the direct comparison after the opening round.