Vardar to host Tikvesh and Struga TL at FFM pitch

Vardar will use the Football Federation of North Macedonia (FFM) pitch as their home ground for two crucial upcoming fixtures: the midweek Macedonian Cup tie against Tikvesh and the weekend league derby with Struga Trim & Lum.

The cup game against Tikvesh is scheduled for Wednesday and is part of the 1/8 finals of the Macedonian Cup, while the derby with Struga TL is set for the weekend. Both matches will be played at the FFM surface because the pitch at the Todor Proeski Arena is being kept in reserve for the national team’s home match against Slovenia on 16 November.

Short ground suits Vardar’s recent form

Vardar’s coach and players prefer the FFM venue, saying the team feel more comfortable on a smaller surface. The squad struggled with conditioning after early summer preparations and through coaching and new signings the side was inconsistent, but under Grof Bozhovic the champion has been steadied and returned to winning ways.

The cup encounter with Tikvesh is particularly important: the visitor from Kavadarci arrives as a strong opponent and an exacting test for a Vardar side that has been variable this autumn. This is a knockout match, and Vardar, who are chasing a domestic double this season, must be at the required level to advance.

Tikvesh already proved they can perform on the FFM pitch when they routed Shkëndija 1:3 there, so Vardar cannot afford to underestimate them in the tight confines of the stadium.

Photo: press material from the event