The last round will be a sudden death for Vardar and Turnovo who will face eachother to decide the champions, while Pelister and Napredok will do the same but for avoiding the relegation play-offs.
Like never before in the history of the Macedonian First League the champions will be known after the final whistle of the very last round in a battle of the two contenders. Holders Vardar and challengers Horizont Turnovo will fight untill the last breath at their clash in Skopje. Vardar can defend the title even with a draw, but the visitors from the small south-eastern village of Turnovo are in Skopje to make history. They must win in order to claim their first ever title.
But surely it won’t be an easy game for both teams. It will be like a true final, a sudden death match! In their two games this season, Turnovo doesn’t remember for good their last clash with Vardar in Skopje as they were humiliated with 5:1, while a goalless draw was the outcome in the game they hosted.
“Our goal was known since the beggining of the season – the title! The way Turnovo played this season asks for a great respect, but also caution. But their achievement doesn’t lower our faith in our qualities. It’s nice when a game like this decides a title. With our fans we will win the title.” said captain Ostoja Stjepanovikj for Vardar’s official web site.
A similar battle will be happening 170km southern in Bitola where Pelister hosts Napredok in a game that decides the faith of both teams. Both are fighting to avoid the relegation play-off places, Pelister need a win while Napredok will be satisfied with a point. Still, even with a win Pelister may have to go into the play-offs as they depend from the outcome of another game. Besides Pelister and Napredok, Drita is also fighting to get out of the zone. Drita and Pelister are in the zone with 37 points, while Napredok is above with 40. If Drita beats Shkendija who will play only for honor, than Pelister even with a win won’t be saved as Drita is better than both Pelister and Napredok in their encounters. Nevertheles the outcome of Drita, if Napredok wins at least a point than they can sleep well untill next season.
The rest three games will be without anything to decide. Sileks will play their last First League home game as they got relegated for the first time in their history. After winning the Cup, Teteks will visit Rabotnichki and as they are relegated this can be a good preparation for their challenges in the Europa League qualifications this July. Bregalnica Shtip and Metalurg are promising a game for goals in Shtip.
Sunday, 17.00 CET:
National Arena Philip II of Macedon in Skopje
Vardar vs. Horizont Turnovo
Referee: Josip Barton (Tetovo)
Pod Tumbe Kafe stadium in Bitola
Pelister vs. Napredok
Referee: Dejan Jakimovski (Skopje)
Bogovinje stadium in Bogovinje
Drita vs. Shkendija
Referee: Konstantin Vlaho (Skopje)
Gjorche Petrov stadium in Skopje
Rabotnichki vs. Teteks
Referee: Stojanche Stojanov (Shtip)
Sileks stadium in Kratovo
Sileks vs. Renova
Referee: Zorancho Temelkov (Kavadarci)
Gradski stadium in Shtip
Bregalnica Shtip vs. Metalurg
Referee: Dalibor Gjorgjevski (Kumanovo)