UEFA Champions League 2nd Qualifying Round
Shkendija 1 - 0 FT FCSB
Player Cards
Season performance ratings for players in this match
Shkendija
Goalkeepers
B. Gaye
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
A. Trumci
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Fetai
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Cake
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Webster
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
R. Ramadani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
K. Qaka
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Krasniqi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
F. Tamba
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
V. Krstevski
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Ibraimi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
A. Amzai
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Ramani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Murati
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
N. Ajetovikj
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Meliqi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Alhassan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Ramadani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Zejnullai
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Ademi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Kaba
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Latifi
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A. Nuhija
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FCSB
Goalkeepers
S. Tarnovanu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
V. Cretu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Ngezana
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Popescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
R. Radunovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
V. Chiriches
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Sut
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Olaru
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Cisotti
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
F. Tanase
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
D. Miculescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
L. Zima
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Graovac
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Kiki
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Pantea
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Stefanescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Lixandru
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Toma
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O. Perianu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
O. Popescu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Alhassan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Stoian
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
AI-powered match analysis and previews to help you decide which games are worth watching
Shkendija's Qualifying Masterclass Forged in Fury
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 40/100. A single moment of clinical finishing and two eruptions of violence have handed Shkendija a precious away-leg advantage in their Champions League preliminary round battle against FCSB.
The Goal That Changed Everything
At the National Arena Toshe Proeski, Shkendija struck with surgical precision in the 65th minute. A. Alhassan's finish, set up by K. Cake's assist, proved the difference in a match where intensity would soon spiral beyond football's boundaries. The home side had created the opening they needed—a moment of quality when the stakes demanded it most.
Discipline Crumbles, Red Cards Reign
What followed was a descent into chaos. Five minutes after falling behind, Kamer Qaka's moment of madness—violent conduct in the 70th minute—saw Shkendija reduced to ten men. Yet the numerical disadvantage proved irrelevant. Nine minutes later, FCSB's Florin Tănase was dismissed for identical offence, levelling the playing field in the most brutal fashion. Two red cards for violent conduct transformed a tightly-contested qualifier into a cautionary tale about losing composure when stakes are highest. The balance of power shifted not through tactical brilliance but through disciplinary failure.
A Fragile Foundation for the Return
For Shkendija, this 1-0 victory is a statement: they can compete at this level. A single goal, earned through focus and executed with clinical finish, may prove the margin that carries them forward. For FCSB, the return leg awaits—a chance to overturn this deficit, but haunted by the red card that undermined their Champions League ambitions at a critical juncture. Both teams will arrive in Bucharest knowing this tie remains wide open, but Shkendija has the psychological edge.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Kamer Qaka impact the match?
Kamer Qaka's 70th-minute red card for violent conduct reduced Shkendija to ten men, but FCSB's Florin Tănase received identical treatment nine minutes later, restoring numerical parity.
Who scored Shkendija's winning goal?
A. Alhassan netted in the 65th minute, assisted by K. Cake, securing the decisive strike at National Arena Toshe Proeski.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.
Fine Margins in Skopje
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 8/100. This tie represents a tactical grind where defensive discipline will dictate which side survives the early European cull.
The Setup
The second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League brings together two sides separated by the narrowest of margins. On July 22, 2025, Shkendija welcomes FCSB to the National Arena Toshe Proeski for a first-leg encounter where Balance is the prevailing theme. Both teams enter this fixture with modest Form, suggesting that neither has yet hit their full competitive stride. With the Stakes revolving around progression to the next phase of the world's premier club competition, the lack of marquee Stars on display shifts the narrative toward collective tactical execution rather than individual brilliance.
Key Battle
The decisive area of the pitch will be the confrontation between the home side's central midfield and the visitors' defensive structure. FCSB traditionally looks to dictate tempo, but Shkendija has built a reputation for making home soil a difficult environment for traveling favorites. This unit-versus-unit struggle will likely be a game of chess, where the first team to lose their shape will be severely punished.
Our Prediction
Given the early-season nature of the tie and the statistical parity between the squads, a high-scoring blowout is unlikely. The match is expected to unfold as a series of controlled phases, with both managers prioritizing a clean sheet over attacking risks. We anticipate a 1-1 draw, a result that keeps the tie alive and forces a winner-takes-all scenario in the second leg.
Key Questions
Should I watch this match?
Watch if you appreciate tactical setups and the high-tension atmosphere of European knockout football.
What's the predicted outcome?
A 1-1 draw, leaving the tie perfectly balanced for the return leg.
Where are Shkendija and FCSB in the league table?
This is a knockout qualifying round; domestic league standings are separate from this competition's bracket.
What is FCSB's current form?
Their current form is steady but uninspired, reflecting the typical early-season rhythm of qualifying teams.
What does this mean for qualification?
The winner progresses to the third qualifying round, moving closer to the Champions League league stage.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.