Recap
The situation at Vardar is increasingly difficult to assess, with problems emerging on several levels, both on and off the pitch. The club is going through a period of serious instability and the recent results have only increased the pressure.
Following the end of their European campaign, Vardar suffered a 0:2 home defeat to title rivals Shkëndija and lost 1:0 away to another strong side, Struga. Their squad situation is also uncertain, as key players Rodrigues, Pires and Bošancić were unavailable in the most recent match, with their availability for this fixture still unclear.
Vardar will definitely be without Argentine midfielder Torres, who is suspended. There has also been another change on the bench, with Argentine coach Fabiani dismissed and his assistant Mirkov taking temporary charge.
The atmosphere within the dressing room is reportedly far from ideal, while in my opinion, Vardar’s problems extend beyond the coaching staff and players. There are also serious questions surrounding the club’s management, decision-making and overall direction. All of this creates an unstable environment at a time when consistency is essential.
Sileks have made a very positive start to the season. They have ambitions connected with European qualification and currently sit second in the table with seven points. Their results have been convincing, including impressive victories over Bashkimi (6:0) and Skopje (3:0), while they also held Shkëndija Haracina to a 1:1 draw.
The confidence within the Sileks squad is high and the atmosphere around the team is considerably more positive than at Vardar. They have shown enough quality in the opening rounds to suggest they can compete with the league’s stronger sides.