Having scored five goals in two games – six if you count an own goal – Dejan Lekić will be eager to strike again when FK Crvena Zvezda visit SK Slavia Praha on Thursday.

Floodgates open
The 24-year-old only joined the Belgrade club this summer after topping the third-division scoring charts with 26 goals in 25 games for FK Zemun. He failed to register in his first three outings for Crvena Zvezda (or Red Star) before, conversely, a third-minute own goal against FC Dinamo Tbilisi unleashed his striking talents at the right end of the pitch. His mistake came in the second leg of his team's UEFA Europa League third qualifying round tie on 6 August, putting Red Star 3-0 behind on aggregate. His subsequent hat-trick changed the outcome – to 5-2 on the night, 5-4 overall – and was the prelude to Saturday's double in his side's Serbian Superliga opener at FK Jagodina.

Unbelievable run
The own goal, though, remains a moment the 1.93m-tall forward would rather forget. "It felt like the world had fallen in on me," he said. "But after that I was in the right place to help the team. I am delighted. I can't believe what has happened to me in such a short time. I am enjoying it, but know how hard I have to work to get better and reach Crvena Zvezda's standards."

Big test
He will hope to be equal to the challenge when Vladimir Petrovic's side travel to Slavia Praha. "Crvena Zvezda have had a million tougher matches than these two, but this is still a big test for what is a new generation of players," he warned. "To be honest, the two teams are at a similar level. Having the second leg in Belgrade could work in our favour, but we cannot just defend in Prague. We will try to play our usual game."

Still hurts
Crvena Zvezda's neighbours, FK Partizan, take on Slovakia's MŠK Žilina, with the first game at home on Thursday. Slavisa Jokanovic's charges are smarting from the defeat by Cyprus's APOEL FC that ended their UEFA Champions League challenge. Left-back Ivan Obradović, recovered from the injury that denied him a place in Serbia's UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad, is desperate to make amends. "People think we are favourites against Žilina; I agree, but also know we have a lot of pressure on us," he said. "We have to get a result to take into the second leg. Everyone wants 5-0 wins, but 2-0 or better would be fine. The last time we played a Slovakian team, Artmedia Petržalka beat us in UEFA Champions League qualifying. This is a chance for revenge."