The UEFA Champions League first qualifying round kicks off on July 7th, 2026, with Vardar Skopje hosting Finnish champions KuPS in a fascinating encounter. Vardar enter this tie in concerning form, having won just one of their last five matches and boasting an overall win rate of 14% this season. Their defensive record is particularly troubling, conceding 15 goals while only netting 7 across their last seven outings. This vulnerability will be a key area for KuPS to exploit.
Conversely, KuPS arrive in excellent shape, unbeaten in their last three games with two wins and a draw. Their defensive solidity is impressive, having kept three clean sheets while scoring three goals in that run. This defensive prowess against Vardar's leaky backline sets up a compelling narrative. The bookmakers see this as an incredibly tight affair, with a 33% probability for a home win, a draw, or an away victory. Watch for KuPS's disciplined defensive structure against Vardar's attempts to spark their misfiring attack. The early stages could dictate the tempo, with KuPS likely aiming to frustrate their hosts and capitalize on any errors.
1. J. Kreidl, 29. A. Puukko, 23. A. Lotjonen, 25. C. Antwi, 10. V. R. Gasc, 8. P. Pennanen, 24. B. Armah, 34. O. Ruoppi, 9. G. Engvall, 28. B. Magassa, 11. J. J. Moreno Ciorciari
Match events
30' Card Yellow Card — M. Matic (Vardar Skopje)
45' Goal Normal Goal — B. Magassa (KuPS) (assists: C. Antwi)
46' subst Substitution 1 — J. Torres (Vardar Skopje) (assists: G. Rodrigues)
49' Goal Normal Goal — B. Armah (KuPS)
54' subst Substitution 2 — I. Puleio (Vardar Skopje) (assists: M. Manevski)
62' subst Substitution 1 — J. J. Moreno Ciorciari (KuPS) (assists: P. Parzyszek)
62' subst Substitution 3 — A. Omeragic (Vardar Skopje) (assists: D. Danev)
62' subst Substitution 4 — D. Castaneda (Vardar Skopje) (assists: N. Bosancic)
68' subst Substitution 2 — G. Engvall (KuPS) (assists: S. Touray)
68' subst Substitution 3 — A. Puukko (KuPS) (assists: S. Savolainen)
68' Card Yellow Card — G. Engvall (KuPS)
70' Card Yellow Card — N. Bosancic (Vardar Skopje)
74' Card Yellow Card — N. Bosancic (Vardar Skopje)
74' Card Red Card — N. Bosancic (Vardar Skopje)
76' subst Substitution 5 — Miguel Pires (Vardar Skopje) (assists: D. Babunski)
80' Card Yellow Card — B. Nikolov (Vardar Skopje)
86' subst Substitution 4 — B. Armah (KuPS) (assists: S. Heiskanen)
86' subst Substitution 5 — T. Jyry (KuPS) (assists: C. Kabuye)
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