Red Star Extends Super Liga Run Without Key Duet
Red Star Belgrade continued its march through the Super Liga Srbije on Saturday, securing a 4-2 away victory against FK Macva Sabac to claim its 13th win in 14 league matches this season, LAOLA1 reported.
Yet while the team extended its unbeaten run—marred only by a lone 0-0 draw against Radnik in mid-September—the club’s Austrian internationals found themselves entirely out of the on-field action. Both Marko Arnautovic and Muhammed Cham spent the full 90 minutes rooted to the substitute bench during the six-goal thriller.
Midweek Cup Heroes Sidelined in League Play
The decision to bench the two attacking players in league play created a sharp contrast to their recent midweek involvement.
Just days prior, Arnautovic served as the central figure in Red Star’s domestic cup campaign. According to reporting from Heute, the 37-year-old ÖFB forward delivered a match-winning performance in a 5-1 cup rout of underdog Jedinstvo, scoring twice to make a forceful case for regular minutes under manager Albert Riera.
Tactical Rotation Under Manager Albert Riera
Under Riera’s tactical setup, Arnautovic has not always had an easy path to consistent playing time. The Spanish coach has selectively rotated the veteran striker, notably leaving him on the bench during European competition fixtures.
However, when trusted with a start in the cup match last Wednesday, Arnautovic seized the opportunity immediately. He broke the deadlock in the 49th minute before doubling his tally in the 67th minute, completing his brace before being substituted off in the 73rd minute.
Season Statistics and Unresolved Squad Questions
Muhammed Cham also featured in that midweek cup encounter, entering the match as a 62nd-minute substitute to help close out the 5-1 victory.
Across all official competitions this season, Arnautovic has accumulated seven goals and one assist over 16 appearances, while Cham has contributed one goal and one assist in 19 matches. Despite those attacking contributions, Riera elected to keep both players on the bench for the entire duration of Saturday’s 4-2 league triumph over Macva Sabac.
Whether this heavy reliance on domestic rotation signals an intentional resting strategy ahead of upcoming European fixtures or a more permanent shift in Riera’s league hierarchy remains unaddressed by the coaching staff. With Red Star maintaining its commanding pace at the top of the Serbian domestic standings, the unanswered question is whether Arnautovic and Cham will regain starting roles when the club returns to continental competition or if the bench assignments point to a shrinking window for regular minutes.
Related reading
