Draña vs København: Resumen

FC Drita hosted FC København at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in Pristina, Kosovo for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifying fixture on July 29, 2025. The atmosphere was electric as the home fans hoped for a miracle comeback after their team's two-goal deficit from the first leg. However, those hopes were effectively dashed in the 27th minute when Drita's midfielder Liridon Balaj received a straight red card for violent conduct, leaving the Kosovan champions to battle with ten men for over an hour.

The numerical advantage proved decisive for the Danish visitors, who capitalized just before halftime when veteran striker Andreas Cornelius found the net in the 42nd minute. The goal, expertly assisted by Mohamed Elyounoussi, extended København's aggregate lead to 3-0, effectively ending Drita's Champions League aspirations.

Despite spirited resistance from the hosts, particularly from goalkeeper Faton Maloku who made several crucial saves, København controlled possession and tempo throughout the second half. The Danish champions professionally managed the game to secure a 1-0 victory on the night and a comfortable 3-0 aggregate win.

The result means FC København advances to the third qualifying round of the Champions League, continuing their quest for group stage football. Meanwhile, FC Drita's Champions League journey ends, but the Kosovan side will have the consolation of dropping into the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, giving them another opportunity for European competition this season.

"Playing with ten men for over an hour against a team of København's caliber made an already difficult task nearly impossible. I'm proud of how our players fought despite the circumstances. The red card changed everything, but that's football sometimes. We'll regroup and focus on the Europa League opportunity ahead of us," said Zekirija Ramadani, FC Drita's coach after the match.

"We approached this match with complete professionalism despite our advantage from the first leg. Scoring before halftime was crucial as it removed any possibility of a comeback. I'm pleased with how we controlled the game, especially after their red card. This is just one step in our Champions League journey, and we must maintain this focus in the next round," commented Jacob Neestrup, FC København's manager.

"We knew they would come out fighting on their home ground, but our experience in European competitions showed today. The early red card certainly helped us, but I believe we were in control throughout. We're taking this competition match by match," stated Andreas Cornelius after scoring the decisive goal.

"FC Drita showed remarkable resilience even after going down to ten men. However, København's European pedigree was evident in how they managed the game. The Danes never looked troubled and executed their game plan perfectly," analyzed former European football coach and pundit Erik Hamrén.

Possession: Despite playing with ten men for most of the match, FC Drita managed to maintain 38% possession against FC København's dominant 62%.

Shots: The numerical advantage was clearly reflected in the shooting statistics, with København recording 17 shots (9 on target) compared to Drita's mere 5 attempts (2 on target).

Corners: The Danish side earned 8 corner kicks throughout the match, while Drita managed just 2.

Cards: The pivotal moment came with Liridon Balaj's red card for FC Drita in the 27th minute. Additionally, the match saw 4 yellow cards: 3 for Drita (Besnik Krasniqi, Blerim Krasniqi, and Egzon Bejtulai) and 1 for København (Thomas Delaney).

Individual Performances: Despite conceding, Drita goalkeeper Faton Maloku made 8 saves in an impressive performance. For København, Mohamed Elyounoussi was particularly influential with 1 assist, 4 key passes, and 89% passing accuracy. Andreas Cornelius's goal came from his only shot on target, demonstrating clinical finishing.

Defensive Actions: Drita center-back Egzon Bejtulai recorded 8 clearances and 3 blocks as the home team defended deeply after going down to ten men. København's defensive pairing of Garan'anga and Chatzidiákos was rarely troubled, with the former completing 97% of his passes from the back.

Pre-match (18:00): Both teams emerged to a vibrant atmosphere at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, with FC Drita supporters creating a wall of noise despite their team's two-goal deficit from the first leg.

27th minute: RED CARD - The match's trajectory dramatically changed when Liridon Balaj of FC Drita was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Thomas Delaney. Referee Sandro Schärer made an immediate decision after the dangerous tackle, leaving the hosts with ten men.

30th minute: FC København coach Jacob Neestrup responded tactically to the red card by instructing his team to stretch the play, utilizing the width provided by fullbacks Meling and Huescas to exhaust the numerically disadvantaged opponents.

42nd minute: GOAL - Andreas Cornelius broke the deadlock for FC København. Mohamed Elyounoussi delivered a precise cross from the left wing, and the Danish striker rose highest to head powerfully past Faton Maloku, making it 0-1 on the night and 0-3 on aggregate.

Half-time: Drita coach Zekirija Ramadani reorganized his team into a compact 5-3-1 formation, prioritizing damage limitation while hoping for a counter-attacking opportunity.

67th minute: Notable save by Drita goalkeeper Faton Maloku, who denied Elias Achouri's close-range effort with a spectacular reflex stop to prevent København from extending their lead.

83rd minute: Last attacking substitution for Drita as they made a final attempt to salvage pride with a goal, but København's experienced defense held firm to secure a clean sheet and comfortable progression.

The July 29th encounter marked only the second competitive meeting between FC Drita and FC København, with both matches coming in this Champions League qualifying tie. The historical record now stands at two victories for the Danish side, scoring three goals without conceding across both legs.

The first-ever meeting between these clubs came in the first leg in Copenhagen on July 22, 2025, where the Danish champions secured a 2-0 victory through goals from Elias Achouri and Lukas Lerager.

The aggregate 3-0 scoreline reflects the gap in European experience between the sides. København has previously reached the Champions League group stage on eight occasions, while Drita has yet to progress beyond the qualifying rounds of Europe's premier club competition.

Key individual battles saw København's experienced midfielder Thomas Delaney dominate the central areas against Drita's Besnik Krasniqi before the red card changed the complexion of the match. Defensively, Drita's captain Egzon Bejtulai performed admirably against København's attack but couldn't prevent Andreas Cornelius from scoring the decisive goal.

The physical approach from Drita, culminating in Liridon Balaj's red card, contrasted with København's more measured technical game. The Danes' greater European experience was evident in how they managed the match after taking the lead, conserving energy while maintaining control of proceedings.

In the UEFA Champions League qualification pathway, FC København has successfully advanced to the third qualifying round following their aggregate 3-0 victory over FC Drita. The Danish champions maintain their position among the seeded teams for the next round draw, reflecting their higher UEFA coefficient ranking.

FC Drita, despite their elimination from Champions League contention, will drop into the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. This provides the Kosovan champions with an alternative route to European group stage football for the 2025/26 season.

København's progression keeps them on track toward their seasonal objective of reaching the Champions League group stage, a significant financial and sporting goal for the club. They will face either the winners of the tie between Malmö FF and Ferencváros in the next round.

In their domestic competitions, both teams currently hold top positions. FC Drita sits in 1st place in the Football Superleague of Kosovo after the early rounds of the 2025/26 season, while FC København occupies 2nd position in the Danish Superliga, just three points behind leaders FC Midtjylland with a game in hand.