The Serbian anthem faded into the sky, a wall of sound swallowed by the night air as the players broke from the line-up and moved into position.
Flags waved high across the stands, the red and blue of Serbia clashing with patches of white and red from traveling Spanish fans.
The floodlights hummed above, casting their pale glow across the pitch like the start of a play under theatre lights.
High above the halfway line, the commentators' booth buzzed with low conversation, microphones already hot as they prepared to narrate the first steps of a new Nations League campaign.
"A beautiful, deafening evening in Belgrade," the lead voice said, his tone reverent but edged with excitement.
"Spain returns to competitive action after their Euros triumph this summer, but there's been plenty of noise even before kickoff—both on the pitch and off it."
"And it hasn't all been about the football," his colleague added, a grin heard more than seen.
