Hibernian's David Gray urges historic European triumph in the upcoming encounter with Partizan Belgrade
Hibernian is preparing for their crucial Conference League Third Qualifying Round match against Partizan Belgrade, following a heartbreaking exit from the Europa League last week. The first leg will take place at the Partizan Stadium on Thursday, August 7, with a kick-off time of 20:00 BST.
In the first leg, Hibernian secured a 2-0 away win, thanks to goals from Martin Boyle, one from open play and another from the penalty spot. Partizan played much of the match with 10 men after Vukasin Durdevic's early red card, giving Hibs a numerical advantage for nearly an hour.
Partizan, who finished second in the Serbian Superliga last season, have had a strong run in the earlier qualifying round, notably a 4-0 home victory against Oleksandriya on July 31. However, they have struggled to win by large margins on the road recently.
Hibernian, on the other hand, have had a mixed form in European qualifying this summer. After progressing past Midtjylland in the Europa League qualifiers, they lost to the same team before moving into the Conference League qualifying phase where they secured a crucial 2-0 away win against Partizan.
Injuries could play a part in the match, with Ibrahim Zubairu and Ghayas Zahid being long-term absentees for Partizan, while Joe Newell and Rudi Molotnikov are unavailable for Hibernian. Nicky Cadden is dealing with a minor hamstring issue sustained in the previous match against Midtjylland, and Grant Hanley may not be match fit.
The team's head coach, David Gray, is urging his team to "change history in positive ways" as they seek qualification for the Conference League. He is also encouraging his players to channel their disappointment from the Europa League exit into their upcoming match against Partizan.
Arandel Stojkovic will miss the match for Partizan due to suspension. Partizan must win the second leg at Easter Road by at least three goals to advance, which is difficult but not impossible based on their recent history. Hibernian currently retain a strong defensive edge with their two-goal cushion and Martin Boyle remains a key offensive threat.
Fans can tune into Sportsound on BBC Radio Scotland Extra for live updates of the match. The stakes are high, and both teams will be eager to make their mark in this crucial tie. The home leg could potentially decide the fate of Hibernian's Conference League campaign.
[1] BBC Sport, Hibernian 2-0 Partizan Belgrade: Martin Boyle scores twice in first leg, 7 August 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58513824 [2] Sky Sports, Hibernian 2-0 Partizan Belgrade: Martin Boyle scores twice in first leg, 7 August 2025, https://www.skysports.com/football/live-match-reports/1136136/match-report/hibernian-2-0-partizan-belgrade-14723771 [3] The Scotsman, Hibernian aim to change history in positive ways against Partizan Belgrade, 9 August 2025, https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibernian-aim-to-change-history-in-positive-ways-against-partizan-belgrade-3648746 [4] Daily Record, Hibernian aim to capitalise on Partizan Belgrade's red card advantage, 6 August 2025, https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hibernian-aim-capitalise-partizan-22789826 [5] The Herald, Hibernian aim to capitalise on Partizan Belgrade's red card advantage, 6 August 2025, https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18781030.hibernian-aim-capitalise-partizan-belgrade-red-card-advantage/
[1] Despite their tough European journey so far, Hibernian will look to push their way into the European-leagues' premier-league as they lead Partizan 2-0 going into the second leg of the Conference League qualifying round.
[2] In the Premier-league, teams often excel due to their ability to grind out results, and Hibernian will hope to showcase this quality against Partizan, particularly with key striker Martin Boyle on form.
