Vardar starts their long-awaited European campaign with the away match against BATE Borisov in Belarus.
After an absence of 5 years, Vardar is once again participating in a European competition. Vardar will represent Macedonia in the second qualifying round of the Champions League after winning the league title last title.
The draw did not do any favors for Vardar who faces a tough opponent in BATE Borisov. The Belarusian champions reached the group stages of the Champions League last season and have built a solid reputation in Europe.
Last season’s Vardar and the current team have one big change in the fact that influential striker Filip Ivanovski left the club earlier in the summer. However, Vardar brought in several players such as Dragan Gjorgiev, Aleksandar Temelkov, Jorge Jimenez, Abraham Alechenwu, and will be looking for a positive result in Belrus. At the press conference before leaving for Belarus, manager Ilcho Gjorgjioski stated, “Vardar always goes for the win, that will be same approach against BATE.”
One thing working for Vardar is that BATE will be without their top goalscorer Renan Bardini Bressan who is with the Olympic team of Belarus in London. Nonetheless, they are still firm favorite which can work in Vardar’s favor. If BATE underestimates the Macedonian champion, Vardar could capitalize and look to pick up a good result. Vardar is relatively healthy and should be at full strength for the match. The goal for the club is to give itself a chance in the return leg, to be played next Wednesday, in the renovated National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje. The stadium should be packed for that game and the great atmosphere will benefit Vardar.
Today’s match starts at 18.00 CET and will be played at the Gorodskoi Stadium in Borisov, BATE’s home stadium. Olivier Thual of France has been assigned as the referee by UEFA. National television channel MTV has announced TV coverage of the game. According to bookmakers, BATE is a strong favorite as they are priced at 1.20. Vardar’s win on the other hand is priced at 11.00 while a draw is set at 7.00.