Macedonian clubs in Europe 2009/10

alt Makedonija in the CL, Rabotnicki, Renova and Milano in UEFA Europa League have got their opponents for the European matches for this season. We will see two duels between Macedonia and Belarus, Rabotnicki got Crusaders from Northern Ireland, while Milano will wait for an opponent.

Macedonian champions Makedonija Gjorce Petrov got the champions from Belarus, BATE Borisov in the second qualifying round of UEFA Champions League. Certainly a tough opponent for Makedonija as BATE are one of the teams that made the biggest surprise last season in the Champions League by qualifying into the group stages and winning 3 points in the matches with Real Madrid, Juventus and Zenit St. Petersburg. BATE are the champions of Belarus three times in a row and since the season in Belarus has already started, after 10 rounds they are first on the standings with 8 wins and only 1 defeat. The first match will be played on 14/15 July, while the second a week later. Makedonija will be hosts in the first leg.

Renova also got a team from Belarus, Dinamo Minsk in the first qualifying round of UEFA Europa League. Dinamo Minsk ended as runners-up last season, while this season they are on the second place once again, behind BATE. Dinamo Minsk is a team that frequently plays in European cups and notices good results. Once again, the draw was not very in favor of the Macedonian teams, as Renova, the only team who managed to go through the first round of European cups last season, got a tough opponent. A Macedonian footballer, Borce Ristovski, played for Dinamo Minsk. The first match will be played on 2nd of July, while the second a week later. Renova will be visitors in the first leg and in case they got through to the next round, they will play against Norvegian Tromso.

Milano will start from the second round and for an opponent will have to wait the winner from the match between the teams of Slaven Koprivnica from Croatia and Birkirkara from Malta. The Croatian team can be considered as favorites, but let’s not go ahead of time. Milano will play its’ matches on 16th and 23rd of July as hosts in the first leg.

It seems like the cup winners Rabotnicki got the easiest job. Crusaders FC from Northern Ireland will be their opponent in the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League. Crusaders ended on the third place of the table, but just as Rabotnicki were victorious in the Cup. Rabotnicki will also be hosts in the first leg scheduled for 16th of July.

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