Prediction for Crvena Zvezda vs Slovan: the dress rehearsal before the new season. Friendly match preview - 29.06.2026
Crvena Zvezda
Slovan Bratislava
On June 29, as part of their summer training camps, an intriguing international friendly will take place between Serbian side Crvena Zvezda and Slovakian club Slovan.
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Despite the friendly status of the game, both teams are approaching this clash with maximum seriousness—qualifying rounds for European competitions and national leagues are just around the corner, leaving less and less time for experiments.
Crvena Zvezda comes into this fixture after a successful season, once again confirming their status as the strongest club in Serbia. Dejan Stanković’s squad has already kicked off their preparations for the new campaign in Austria and played their first pre-season match on June 25, defeating Austria’s Amstetten 2-1. Mirko Ivanić and Sheriff Enem were on the scoresheet, and after the game, the coach emphasized that the main focus right now is not the result, but the quality of football and tactical discipline.
Slovan are also holding their pre-season camp and have already played their first friendly, narrowly defeating Austria’s GAK (1-0). This marks the start of a new era for the club—this summer, legendary Yaya Touré took over as head coach and has just begun implementing his football philosophy. That’s why every test match is especially important at this stage for the Slovak champions.
In terms of playing style, Crvena Zvezda traditionally like to take the initiative. The Serbian giants favor high pressing, make active use of the flanks, and spend plenty of time on the front foot in the opposition half. Even in friendlies, the Belgrade side rarely stray from their core philosophy.
Slovan are a more pragmatic side. Under their new coaching staff, the Slovaks are gradually transitioning to a more intense style of play, but for now, there’s a strong emphasis on defensive organization and quick transitions into attack. For Yaya Touré, facing such a seasoned opponent is a great opportunity to test his squad against one of the most experienced European campaigners in recent years.
You shouldn’t expect both clubs to field their strongest lineups for all 90 minutes. Most likely, the managers will make plenty of substitutions to assess the readiness of the entire squad. Nevertheless, the quality on the pitch promises an entertaining match.
At this stage, Crvena Zvezda can be considered slight favorites. The Serbian side has already played their first successful pre-season match, are gaining match sharpness, and will likely feel more confident. However, Slovan are more than capable of putting up a fight and capitalizing on any mistakes from their opponents, which are inevitable at this early stage of preparation.
Expect open football with plenty of chances and active squad rotation. In these kinds of matches, the result isn’t the main focus, but Crvena Zvezda look like the slight favorites.
Prediction: Crvena Zvezda to win.
