Vardar hosts Shkendija in a new 'red-and-black' mega-derby

Football in North Macedonia pauses for one of its biggest fixtures on 09.08.2026: at 17:00 the Todor Proeski Arena in Skopje will stage a new "red-and-black" mega-derby as Vardar face Shkendija in the 2nd round of the 2026/27 season.

Duel with weight beyond the table

The result will not settle the title race — the two clubs still meet three more times before the season ends — but the match can shape momentum and signal which of the country’s leading teams will dictate the tone in the weeks ahead.

Referee Stojanche Trpchevski has been appointed for the game. Preparation contrasts are obvious: Shkendija travelled to Scotland on Thursday for a Conference League tie against Hibernian and must play the rematch in a few days, while Vardar concentrated their build-up only on this derby.

Pressure sits heavier on the champions. Vardar arrive under scrutiny after a disappointing European campaign in which coach Kristijan Fabiani failed to take the team forward on the continental stage. Supporters will fill the stands and voice encouragement, but a defeat would intensify the problems already visible — and with Vardar due to visit Struga TL in the next round, the team cannot afford a losing run.

For Shkendija the Scottish tie remains on the coaching staff’s mind, yet derbies between these two clubs rarely suffer from lack of intensity. Artim Polozani faces Vardar for the first time as Shkendija’s coach; he wore Vardar’s colours as a player in 2008/09 and 2010, appearing in 21 league matches and scoring five goals. Polozani will also be missing Gaje, Amzai, Dimoski and Spahiu through injury today.

Recent head-to-head form favours the Tetovo side: in the last 10 encounters Shkendija recorded six wins, two draws and Vardar only two victories — both coming last season (0:1 in Tetovo and 3:0 in Skopje when the title was sealed on the final day).

The kickoff at 17:00 will turn analysis into action: whatever tactics and words preceded it, the answers will come from the pitch during 90 minutes of high stakes football between Vardar and Shkendija.

Photo: press material from the event