Vardar
North Macedonian Vardar Skopje will face KuPS in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. They start at home on 7 July at 18:00 BST at the Tose Proeski National Arena in Skopje.
Last season, KuPS went as far as the Conference League play-off round, but this time the target is far more ambitious, though also more remote: the main stage of the UEFA Champions League. Vardar Skopje have no less desire, but they were last seen in a European group stage in 2017.
This is almost a classic three-way match, with Vardar Skopje holding a slight edge thanks to home advantage, while KuPS offset that with the greater experience they gained in European competition last season.
Vardar Skopje approach the start of the UEFA Champions League with a new head coach: Argentine Cristian Fabbiani officially took charge of the champions of North Macedonia on 1 July. Goce Sedloski, who had been combining two roles, will focus on the national team. The new man in charge had no coaching experience outside his home country before this. At his most recent club, Newell's Old Boys, he used a 4-4-2 system, but also switched to a defensive 5-4-1 or the fashionable 4-2-3-1. For the team, this is only their second European campaign in the past eight years: the 12-time national champions were in a severe financial crisis, which even prevented them from obtaining a licence to take part in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League.
Things, including the finances, are going better for KuPS. That has allowed the club to retain the league title in Finland for two years. Even so, the team from Kuopio have been led since the new season by Miika Nuutinen, a 34-year-old specialist who deliberately chose a coaching career as early as the age of 17. The reason was not an injury, but a desire to analyse and lead. The coaching change has not affected KuPS's leading role in Finland, as the club still top the standings.
Vardar Skopje only managed to test themselves in the UEFA Conference League for the first time last season. Their results were getting past La Fiorita of San Marino and then being swept aside by Switzerland's Lausanne-Sport, 6:2 on aggregate. KuPS, meanwhile, played out a goalless draw against the same Lausanne-Sport at the start of winter in that same season, so the difference in level is clear. KuPS may not have enough to win, but taking a draw away from home is entirely realistic.
Kadir Sağlam (Turkey)
Matches – 5 (International competitions, 2024/25-2025/26);
Average fouls per match – 32;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellow cards) – 4.4;
Matches with a red card – 2 out of 5;
Matches with a penalty – 2 out of 5.
|
Miodrag Božović
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Davor Taleski
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Darko Velkovski
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Georgije Jankulov
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mislav Matić
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Boban Nikolov
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Diego Facundo Castañeda
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joaquín Eduardo Torres
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Miguel Ângelo Ferreira Pires
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Azer Omeragikj
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Goran Zakarić
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ian Lucas Puleio Araya
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Daniel Dikovski
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Filip Cvetkovski
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Filip Najdovski
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mihail Manevski
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nenad Mishkovski
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
David Babunski
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Dimitar Todorovski
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Filip Duranski
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Nemanja Bosančić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Dimitar Danev
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ediz Spahiu
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gerson Leal Rodrigues Gouveia
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Miika Nuutinen
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Johannes Kreidl
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Akseli Viljami Puukko
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bob Nii Armah
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Brahima Magassa
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Clinton Antwi
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kasim Adams Nuhu
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Petteri Henri Juhana Pennanen
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tommi Matti Jyry
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Valentín Román Gasc
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Gustav Per Fredrik Engvall
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jaime José Moreno Ciorciari
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Hemmo Riihimäki
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kasperi Silen
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arttu Mikael Olavi Lötjönen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Karl Ward
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Saku Heiskanen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Taneli Armas Hämäläinen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Arttu Heinonen
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Niilo Juhani Kujasalo
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Saikou Touray
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Hope Calvin Ddamulira Kabuye
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Piotr Parzyszek
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Saku Jussi Savolainen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
18
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
9
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
10
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
14
|
Manchester City
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Aston Villa
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Betis
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
Arsenal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
AS Roma
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
5
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
6
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
7
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
8
|
PSG
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
9
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
11
|
Manchester United
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Liverpool
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
AEK Athens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
