Vardar winless in four against title rivals, 360 minutes without a goal
Reigning champions are six points behind Shkendija after a 0:1 home loss to Struga TL and have not scored in four direct duels.
Vardar's title defence has hit a worrying patch after a 0:1 home defeat to Struga TL on 02.11.2026, leaving the reigning champions six points adrift of leaders Shkendija and five behind second‑placed Struga TL.
The result underlined a broader problem: against the two direct title rivals, Vardar have failed to register a win in four encounters this season and have not scored a single goal.
Four matches, one draw, three defeats
The sequence against Shkendija and Struga TL reads: round 2 — a 0:2 home loss to Shkendija; round 3 — a 0:1 defeat away to Struga TL in Struga; round 11 — a 0:0 draw with Shkendija in Gostivar; and round 12 — the recent 0:1 home loss to Struga TL. That run amounts to one draw and three defeats.
In total, Vardar have gone 360 minutes without finding the net against the two clubs that currently set the pace in the championship. The lack of goals in these high‑profile fixtures is now a direct threat to their hopes of defending the title.
With only three teams realistically in the title race at this stage — Shkendija, Struga TL and Vardar — the coming rounds will be decisive. Vardar must find offensive solutions quickly if they want to close the gap in the table.
Photo: press material from the event
