Shkendija from Macedonia successfully qualified for the third round of Champions League qualification . Welcomes Qarabag in its Ecolog Arena.
Shkendija
The players of Shkendija from Tetovo continue with excellent performances in the Champions League qualifiers, as well as in the preparatory matches. In the last five games, they recorded three wins and two draws, confirming their stable form and tactical maturity.
Shkendija won 2:1 on the road at the Romanian FCSB, thus securing passage to the third preliminary round with a total of 3:1. Although they were outsiders, the Macedonian representative showed maturity and efficiency in key moments. The first match against FCSB ended with a 1:0 victory for the hosts.
In the return match against the Welsh New Saints, Shkendija won 2:1 after extra time. It was a dramatic match in which the Tetovo team showed character and physical fitness. The first match against the New Saints ended goalless.
Before the European challenges, Shkendija drew 1:1 against CSKA Sofia in a friendly match. The match served as a good preparation for the upcoming qualifiers, and the Macedonian club showed solid organization of the game.
Karabakh
Azerbaijani champions Qarabag crushed Irish side Shelbourne away from home. They scored three goals, completely controlling the action on the pitch. The result could have been even higher if they hadn’t missed several great chances. In the return match, just one goal was enough for Qarabag to confirm their class and the fact that they are a much more prepared team than the Irish.
Before this triumph, Qarabag were defeated by Red Bull Salzburg 2:1 in a friendly match. Although they showed fighting spirit, the Austrian hosts controlled most of the match and deservedly won.
Five days earlier, Qarabag beat Dutch Twente 3:2 at home in a dynamic match full of twists and turns. It was a confirmation of the offensive potential of the Azerbaijani team.
They lost to Ukrainian side Metalist 5:4 in a spectacular game with nine goals. Despite the goals scored, the defense was not up to the task.
