The two best Macedonian football leagues continue this weekend with the second round of the season.
In First League action this week, there is no real derby on the schedule but there should still be some interesting matches. The defending champion Vardar is visiting Napredok, a club that has proven to be tough to beat at home. In addition, Napredok began the season with a solid result away to Renova, and they will look to also surprise Vardar who is coming off a 3:2 win over Rabotnichki.
Metalurg, meanwhile, in hosting the Second League winner from last year in Pelister. The match should be extra special for Metalurg manager Gjorgji Hristov who played for Pelister in his playing career. Hristov was born in Bitola and grew up in the Pelister youth system, but he will now attempt to beat his hometown club as manager of Metalurg.
In Tetovo, Teteks will play against local rivals Renova, but since the real derby in Tetovo is between Teteks and Shkendija, this game is not quite as intense. Both teams notched disappointing results in the first round with Teteks losing at home against Horizont Turnovo, while Renova drew with Napredok.
Drita debuted in the First League with a narrow home defeat to Bregalnica Shtip in the last round, and now the club daces its first road challenge away to Rabotnichki, also looking for its points this season. Bregalnica Shtip, on the other hand, will be targeting three points at home against Sileks, while the remaining game of the round will see Shkendija visit Horizont Turnovo.
Saturday, 18.08.2012 at 17.00 CET:
Kukush stadium in Turnovo
Horizont Turnovo vs. Shkendija
Referee: Dejan Jakimovski (Skopje)
National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje
Rabotnichki vs. Drita
Referee: Marjan Markoski (Ohrid)
Gradski stadium in Tetovo
Teteks vs. Renova
Referee: Aleksandar Stavrev (Skopje)
Sunday, 19.08.2012 at 17.00 CET:
Zhelezarnica stadium in Skopje
Metalurg vs. Pelister
Referee: Petar Mantev (Negotino)
Gradski stadium in Shtip
Bregalnica Shtip vs. Sileks
Referee: Dimitar Mechkarovski (Skopje)
Gradski stadium in Kichevo
Napredok vs. Vardar
Referee: Goran Spirkoski (Prilep)
Standings | Fixtures & results
As for the Second League, promotion favorites Miravci and Makedonija GjP face off each other in the highest profile match of the round. Both teams collected wins in their first games and will look to make a statement in this important early clash. Vrapchishte and Babi, featuring in the Second League for the first time in their club histories, play their first home games this round against Skopje and Lokomotiva, respectively.
Saturday, 18.08.2012 at 17.00 CET:
StadArena in Vrapchiste
Vrapchiste vs. Skopje
Referee: Zharko Dimeski (Prilep)
Gradski stadium in Shtip
Babi vs. Lokomotiva
Referee: Toni Mitrevski (Bitola)
Miravci stadium in Miravci
Miravci vs. Makedonija Gjorche Petrov
Referee: Dalibor Gjorgjevski (Kumanovo)
Novaci stadium in Novaci
Novaci vs. Korzo
Referee: Konstantin Vlaho (Skopje)
Boris Trajkovski stadium in Skopje
Madjari Solidarnost vs. 11 Oktomvri
Referee: Aleksandar Angelov (Kochani)
Goce Delchev stadium in Prilep
Pobeda Junior vs. Gorno Lisiche
Referee: Stevche Shuleski (Ohrid)
Gradski stadium in Kavadarci
Tikvesh vs. Ohrid
Referee: Nikola Kostenchev (Skopje)
Brvenica stdaium in Brvenica
Rufeja vs. Gostivar
Referee: Marjan Mladenovski (Skopje)