National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Akademija Pandev or Vardar that keep their silverware dream alive.
It's no vacation for neither Akademija Pandev nor Vardar as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
These teams are so close in distance that this match is special, a derby with local pride the main prize.
Akademija Pandev form and stats
Last season, Akademija's Macedonian Cup journey ended in the quarter-finals.2-0-2 (win-draw-lost) are the First League numbers at home for Akademija Pandev so far this season.
K. Markoski was the last player to score a league goal for Akademija and it's becoming a more and more distant memory as Akademija Pandev haven't scored in 180 minutes.
The Akademija fans got no joy from their last match, a First League game also here at Stadion Mladost, Strumica: A 0-1 defeat against Shkupi. Preceding that game was the away draw at Rabotnicki that finished 0-0.
Akademija Pandev are traveling soon after this match as the First League match at Makedonija awaits in four days.
Akademija Pandev have scored 2 goals here in 4 league matches, a depressing statistic. As for guarding their own goal, Akademija have only let in 2 goals at home.
Vardar form and stats
Vardar's mission in Macedonian Cup last season failed in the 8th finals against Skendija 79.The story so far for the visiting team on their First League travels is 1 win, 2 draws and 1 defeat.
Vardar's previous game was their home loss versus Skendija 79 (1-5). A 1-1 draw at Pelister's stadium before that.
As you can see from the result above, the defeat against Skendija 79 was particularly ugly (1-5). The humiliation is still top of mind.
A quick return to home after this game, as Vardar are hosting Renova in the First League only four days away.
The visiting Vardar have scored more than one goal per away game in the league so far. The grand total is 4 goals from 4 games. Vardar have conceded 4 goals in these away matches.
Head 2 Head
Numbers for the last ten meetings between these two teams are: zero wins for Akademija, four draws and six wins for Vardar. Over 2,5 goals: four times; under 2,5 goals: six games.Top Goalscorers
  M. Cvetanoski 2 goals | D. Micevski 2 goals |  M. Krstovski 1 goals |
Akademija Pandev missing players
Vardar missing players
| Akademija Pandev | Vardar | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 11 | Played | P | 15 | 25 | ||
| 4 | 2 | Won | W | 3 | 7 | ||
| 7 | 4 | Drew | D | 5 | 8 | ||
| 14 | 5 | Lost | L | 7 | 10 | ||
| 15 | 6 | Scored | S | 16 | 28 | ||
| 34 | 11 | Conceded | C | 24 | 39 | ||
| 92% | 91% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 93% | 92% | ||
| 56% | 45% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 80% | 72% | ||
| 28% | 18% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 60% | 56% | ||
| 12% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 33% | 40% | ||
| 4% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 4% | ||
| 44% | 36% | BTTS | BTTS | 60% | 56% | ||
| 20% | 27% | Clean Sheets | C S | 27% | 28% | ||
| 44% | 45% | Failed to Score | F T | 20% | 24% | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 0 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 0 | 0 | ||
| 3.1 | 2.4 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.2 | 2.2 | ||
| 2 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 2 | 2 | ||
| 165 | 81 | Total Shots | T S | 103 | 218 | ||
| 55 | 25 | Shots on Target | S O | 35 | 82 | ||
| 18% | 20% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 40% | 32% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Skendija 79 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 13 | 21 |
| 2 | Shkupi | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
| 3 | Makedonija | 9 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 16 |
| 4 | Borec | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 15 |
| 5 | Sileks | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 14 |
| 6 | Struga | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 14 |
| 7 | Rabotnicki | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 |
| 8 | Pelister | 9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 9 | Vardar | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | -6 | 11 |
| 10 | Renova | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | -4 | 7 |
| 11 | Akademija Pandev | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 7 |
| 12 | Belasica | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 10 | -21 | 1 |