No goals. Nothing decided. The tie goes to Belgrade.
0-0 in Zagreb. Partizan leave Croatia without conceding. Lokomotiva leave the first leg without scoring. The second leg at Partizan’s ground on July 16 will decide who progresses.
Two clubs. Two different weights of expectation. A goalless first leg that gives neither side a clear advantage.
Partizan in Zagreb
Partizan Belgrade came to Croatia as the visitors but nobody at this level calls Partizan small. Serbian champions. One of the most recognisable club names in the Balkans. A long European history. A ground in Belgrade that holds 32,000 and creates serious pressure on European nights.
Coming to Lokomotiva’s stadium in Zagreb — the Stadion Kranjčevićeva — and leaving with a 0-0 is absolutely the result Partizan wanted. They did not concede. They did not give Lokomotiva anything to hold. They fly home on equal terms.
Lokomotiva’s Problem
Lokomotiva Zagreb are the second club of Zagreb behind Dinamo. They finished second in the Croatian First Football League this season. European football comes through that route. Qualifying for Conference League first round is where clubs like Lokomotiva start.
They were at home. They had the crowd. They did not score.
Zero goals at home in a first leg against a side they needed to beat to progress with advantage. Instead of going to Belgrade with a lead they go there level. That means winning or drawing is not good enough. A 0-0 in the second leg goes to extra time. A 1-0 loss and they are out.
Lokomotiva need to score in Partizan’s stadium. That is a different task entirely.
What the Goalless Draw Means
Both clubs know what happened. Neither is entirely satisfied. Partizan are happier — away 0-0 in European football is always the better side of the equation.
Lokomotiva had moments. Partizan had moments. Nothing converted. Clean sheets for both goalkeepers. The kind of match that European qualifying throws up regularly — tight, physical, neither team willing to commit to attack at the cost of defensive shape.
The quality difference between Croatian second club and Serbian champion is meaningful in some areas. Thursday it did not show in the score.
Partizan’s Path
Partizan went out of the Europa League qualifying last season and dropped to the Conference League. This season they start in the Conference League qualifying from the first round. They have the squad and the budget to go deep in this competition if they get through the qualifying rounds.
Win in Zagreb next week — or hold 0-0 through the second leg to force extra time — and Partizan face the next round. The Conference League group stage is the prize. For a club of Partizan’s size, a group stage run brings revenue, exposure and momentum into the Serbian Super Liga season.
0-0 away from home. Exactly where they wanted to be.
For more UEFA Conference League qualifying coverage visit FawaNews football. Full qualifying bracket and fixtures at the official UEFA Conference League website.
NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 0-0 FK Partizan Belgrade UEFA Conference League 2026/27 — First Qualifying Round, First Leg | Thursday, 9 July 2026 | Stadion Kranjčevićeva, Zagreb, Croatia
Lokomotiva Zagreb: Croatian First Football League runners-up 2025-26 Partizan Belgrade: Serbian Super Liga champions 2025-26
Second Leg: FK Partizan Belgrade vs NK Lokomotiva Zagreb | 16 July 2026 | Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia
HT: 0-0 | FT: 0-0
