Pro-government says brothers’ first official clash will turn family rivalry into a Serbian football test

Pro-government says brothers’ first official clash will turn family rivalry into a Serbian football test
The fixture in Humska marks the first official meeting between brothers Igor Miladinović of Partizan and Uroš Miladinović of Čukarički. The pair grew up together, trained in Čukarički’s youth system and shared much of their football development before taking separate paths in senior football.

Igor, who joined Partizan on loan from Saint-Étienne this summer, said the occasion feels unlike any previous match. “The feeling is strange, I will play against my own brother for the first time in my life since we have mostly been on the same side,” he said, adding that they had discussed the duel throughout the week. He also described their long-standing competition as a force that pushed both players to improve.

Uroš likewise acknowledged the emotional weight of the match, saying there were “mixed feelings” because Igor is his brother, while stressing that each player would give his maximum for his team once the game began. Their pre-match conversations have included the customary teasing between siblings, but Uroš said it remained firmly within the spirit of sport.

The sporting context adds another layer to the occasion. Partizan have taken 11 points from 11 domestic matches and sit 10th, leaving Igor eager for a run of home victories. Čukarički arrive with greater confidence after a 3–0 win over Zemun ended a six-match winless run. Uroš, who has five goals and three assists this season, said that result had restored belief but warned that Partizan’s quality would make the match difficult.

Both brothers also spoke about the support they have given each other since childhood. Uroš said Igor’s experience in France had provided valuable advice, while Igor credited their family and shared upbringing for their progress. For 90 minutes, however, they will be opponents—with the possibility of becoming teammates again someday still part of the family’s hopes.