Shkupi vs Vardar Prediction: A derby glorious as before

Skopje, as the capital of Macedonia, has two big city derbies. One is Vardar - Rabotnicki, it is a neighborhood derby, a derby with charm. But when Shkupi - Vardar play, and especially at Chair, it's a "Battle for Skopje". It's a derby in which Skopje is "shaking", it's a derby in which passions boil, football ones of course. On Monday, the day after the matches of the 2nd round, there was a change of managers in both clubs. Shkupi handed Ernest Gjoka his resignation and gave their trust to Matija Mirkov, who will have the help of Boban Babunski, while Gorazd Mihailov left from Vardar due to personal reasons, so Vardar appointed Goran Petreski-Chunga as the new manager. And so now both Shkupi and Vardar enter today's "Battle for Skopje" with new managers, Mirkov and Petreski.

Form: LDWDW

Shkupi started this season desperately. Only one point out of the maximum six was won. Before the start of the season, they were among the main candidates for the trophy, but their performances are below any expectations. Today they will have a full stadium, a new manager, and a different approach is expected from all players. It’s their first match in this stadium this season, it’s renovated, and the fans announced that they will prepare a spectacle and a hell for their rivals.

Form: WLWDL

After the defeat against Brera in the first round, Vardar had an even more difficult match with Pelister at home and psychologically they had a very difficult moment because they had to win that match and, in the end, they succeeded. After those three points, the team has been lifted both psychologically and physically. Maybe this change of managers came in a sensitive period, but Vardar must perform much better this season, with new owners and sponsorships this team certainly can fight for a spot in Europe.

Speaking of tradition, then this derby between Skopje rivals will be No. 27. Vardar are more successful, have 11 wins, Shkupi 7, and eight matches ended without a winner. A motive plus for Vardar will be the fact that they have not won in the last five meetings, four defeats and one draw. It’s still unknown how these teams will play under new managers, but I expect a match with a lot of tension, fight, and goals. Shkupi are certainly the favorite here, but it’s a derby and everything is possible.