Alioski and Arnautović meet again as Lugano host Red Star

Veteran Macedonian international Džani Alioski and Austria striker Marko Arnautović will face each other again on the evening of October 15, 2026, when FC Lugano host Red Star Belgrade in a Conference League group-stage clash.

Alioski, who now plays for Lugano, and Arnautović, who is listed as a forward for Red Star, carry a personal history that dates back to the European Championship in 2021. In that group-stage meeting Austria beat North Macedonia 3:1 and Arnautović settled the result late in the game.

Old incident, new attention

The match in 2021 sparked controversy after an exchange between the two players. UEFA investigated the incident, established what Arnautović had said to Alioski, and suspended Arnautović for Austria's next game.

Arnautović later offered an apology. "Yesterday, in the heat of the moment, some sharp words were said, for which I want to apologize — especially to my friends from Macedonia and Albania," he wrote at the time. Years have passed since the episode, and there is no public sign that either player seeks to reignite the confrontation, though Arnautović's combative temperament is often noted.

Tonight's reunion adds an extra subplot to the sporting stakes: beyond the clubs' ambitions in Europe, supporters and commentators will watch for any flashpoints between the two internationals who once figured in a disciplinary case at a major tournament.

Photo: press material from the event