BELGRADE, Serbia (Interstat) — A surging Vojvodina side, fresh off a dominant cup victory, will look to continue its momentum against a Rad Beograd team playing its first competitive match in over two years when the sides meet in the SRB Cup of Cup on Saturday.

The match is scheduled for Stadion Kralj Petar Prvi in the Serbian capital.

Vojvodina enters as a heavy favorite according to statistical models, but will face a Rad Beograd squad shrouded in mystery due to an extreme lack of recent fixtures. Vojvodina’s form has been notably inconsistent but impressive at its peak. It is coming off a 4-1 rout of Napredak Markovac in the cup on March 21. Its recent league results include a signature 1-0 win over powerhouse Partizan on March 8 and a stunning 1-0 victory at rival Crvena Zvezda last December.

However, the team has also suffered puzzling losses, including a 3-0 home defeat to Novi Pazar in February. Interstat’s ELO rating system gives Vojvodina a 72.10 percent probability of winning outright.

Rad Beograd presents a unique challenge for analysts. The club’s most recent recorded result is a 2-0 win over Radnički Obrenovac on Nov. 18, 2023. The prolonged absence from official competition makes current form and roster composition a significant unknown, adding an element of unpredictability to the cup tie.

Despite Vojvodina’s projected advantage, Interstat’s game simulator predicts a tightly contested affair, forecasting a 1-1 draw after regulation. This suggests Rad Beograd’s extended preparation time for this specific match could neutralize some of Vojvodina’s sharpness.

The winner will advance in the knockout tournament, while the loser’s cup campaign will end. For Rad Beograd, the game marks a long-awaited return to competitive football. For Vojvodina, it is a chance to build on its cup success and navigate a potential trap game against a motivated, rested opponent.

Rad Beograd is next scheduled to play at IMT Novi Beograd on April 19.