The Finns won't forget last year's failure: prediction for KuPS vs Vardar
The second leg of the Champions League qualifying round between KuPS and Vardar is set for July 14, 2026, at the Kuopio Football Stadium in Kuopio. The Finnish champions claimed a solid 2-0 victory in the first leg in Skopje, giving themselves a strong advantage, while the Macedonian side now faces the daunting task of staging a major comeback away from home to keep their campaign alive.
KuPS: confident form and the painful lesson of last season
In the opening match, Miika Nuutinen's side secured a comfortable result thanks to goals from Brahima Magassa and Bob Nii Armah. The victory extended KuPS's unbeaten run in regulation time to 13 matches, with their only setback during this spell coming in a penalty shootout loss to VPS in the Finnish Cup.
The hosts are also leading the Veikkausliiga, collecting 30 points after 15 rounds and edging out rivals on tiebreakers. The Finns won't be complacent: last year, KuPS won their first leg against Kairat 2-0 but then lost 0-3 and crashed out, so this time the team will surely aim to settle the tie as early as possible.
Vardar: at least two goals required, with no room for error
Kristian Fabbiani's debut as Vardar's head coach ended in disappointment. The Macedonians failed to create enough pressure, and Nemanja Bosancic's red card in the 76th minute further complicated matters — the midfielder will miss the return leg due to suspension.
Still, it would be unwise to underestimate the visitors: last season, Vardar clinched the domestic title with 83 points from 33 matches, suffering just two defeats. However, the European qualification stage has proven a much sterner test than their typical domestic opposition, and now the team must score at least twice while keeping a clean sheet.
Match facts and head-to-head
- KuPS are unbeaten in regulation time for 13 official matches.
- The Finnish side won the first leg in Skopje 2-0.
- Vardar will play the second leg without the suspended Nemanja Bosancic.
The hosts should finish the job: prediction for KuPS vs Vardar
Vardar will have to play much more boldly than they did a week ago, but a more open game could actually make things easier for KuPS. The Finns are in excellent form, look confident at home, and have an attack well-suited to exploiting the spaces left by opponents pressing forward.
The bitter experience of last year's defeat to Kairat should guard against underestimation and premature relaxation. KuPS have every chance not only to protect their advantage but to claim another convincing win, denying the visitors any real hope of a comeback.
