Crvena Zvezda beat Radnicki Nis 3-0 with three different scorers

Crvena Zvezda defeated Radnicki Nis 3-0 at the Rajko Mitic Stadium. Marko Arnautovic opened the scoring, Mohammad Abu Fani added the second and Tomas Handel completed the result. The league leaders controlled the match without conceding and moved to 28 points after ten rounds, while the visitors were unable to turn their moments of possession into a sustained threat.

Arnautovic gave the hosts early control

The opening goal allowed Crvena Zvezda to play with greater patience. Radnicki could no longer wait only for a transition and had to move more players forward.

That extra space helped the home midfield circulate the ball away from pressure. The lead changed the match without removing the need for defensive concentration. The early goal changed more than the score. Radnicki had to leave its deeper block and offer more room between midfield and defence. Crvena Zvezda used that space with short passes instead of forcing every attack. The full-backs also chose different moments to advance, so one could stretch the play while the other protected the area behind the ball. That balance allowed the hosts to keep pressure without giving the visitors an easy counterattack.

Abu Fani strengthened control before the interval

The second goal rewarded Crvena Zvezda's pressure in central areas. Abu Fani combined his midfield work with a decisive run into a scoring position.

Radnicki then faced a difficult choice between protecting the box and pressing higher. The hosts reached the break with both the score and the rhythm in their favour. Abu Fani's role was not limited to the final shot. He helped move possession through midfield, closed space after a turnover and then arrived in the box at the right moment. The second goal therefore rewarded work that had already influenced the match. Radnicki faced a difficult choice between pressing the ball and protecting the area in front of goal, and Zvezda used calm circulation whenever the visitors were late in making that decision.

Handel completed a balanced performance

Tomas Handel added the third goal after the restart. His contribution came from a midfield unit that continued to support attacks without losing its shape.

Crvena Zvezda did not need to force every possession once the advantage was secure. That discipline limited the chances of a late response from the visitors. Handel's goal allowed the hosts to manage the closing phase without abandoning their attacking shape. Zvezda kept width, but did not send every player beyond the ball. When a clear route disappeared, possession returned to a safe area and the move began again. This reduced unnecessary losses and preserved energy. The third goal also did not lead to a drop in concentration, because nearby passing options remained available to any teammate placed under pressure.

Zvezda did not concede thanks to collective work

The defenders protected the central route and directed attacks toward less dangerous areas. Midfield pressure reduced the time available for Radnicki's final pass.

The goalkeeper still had to remain ready when the visitors reached shooting range. Preventing a goal confirmed that attacking control did not create careless gaps. The clean sheet came from all three lines. The forwards directed Radnicki's first pass, midfield closed the centre and the defenders stayed close enough to collect loose balls. When the visitors escaped the first press, Zvezda retreated together instead of making isolated challenges. That organisation reduced one-on-one situations for the goalkeeper and kept the shortest route to goal closed even after the result was already secure.

The standings reflect a reliable start

Crvena Zvezda reached 28 points from ten league matches. The result preserves first place without turning the next fixture into a formality.

Radnicki can separate the difficult away result from the specific mistakes that produced each goal. Both teams now have clear lessons to carry into the next round. Twenty-eight points from ten matches confirm a strong opening to the league, but they do not make the next fixture automatic. Zvezda can carry forward the patience and shared scoring responsibility shown here. Radnicki should separate the quality of the opponent from the specific errors that produced each goal and repeat those situations in training. Three different scorers are important because future opponents cannot direct all defensive attention toward one player. The scoreline was comfortable because the hosts linked their attacking ambition to reliable protection behind the ball. That connection, rather than possession alone, is the clearest standard to carry into the next round.