Nine years since the Super Cup in Skopje: Real Madrid beat Manchester United 2-1

On 8 August 2017 Skopje experienced its biggest football event: the European Super Cup which was played at Arena Todor Proeski, between Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The match ended 2-1 in favor of Real Madrid; the scorers were Casemiro and Isco, while Romelu Lukaku scored for Manchester United.

The city marked by football

In those days Skopje filled with fans from England and Spain; the city center and the areas around the arena were overcrowded and attention on the city was large. For Arena Todor Proeski it remained the biggest and most spectacular event in the stadium's football history.

The Super Cup reminded the domestic public that the arrival of European giants is an exception, not a rule. Club football on several occasions brought participation of Macedonian clubs in European tournaments — Vardar appeared in the Europa League, and Shkendija last year was part of the Conference League — but such final matches over the years are rare.

And the national team from time to time filled the stands when hosting teams like Italy and England, but the days around 8 August 2017 remained imprinted as a period when Skopje for a short time found itself at the center of football events in Europe.

Photo: press material from the event