FCSB vs Shkëndija: Overview

In a shocking UEFA Champions League qualifier at the Arena Naţională, North Macedonian underdogs KF Shkëndija 79 pulled off a remarkable 2-1 victory over Romanian champions FCSB to advance to the next qualifying round with a 3-1 aggregate score.

The atmosphere in Bucharest was electric as home supporters packed the stadium expecting their side to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg. However, the visitors had other ideas, displaying tactical discipline that frustrated the Romanian side throughout the match.

Shkëndija opened the scoring in the 28th minute through Juri Cisotti, doubling their aggregate advantage and leaving FCSB with a mountain to climb. The hosts briefly rallied when Liridon Latifi pulled one back in the 33rd minute, but their hopes were ultimately dashed when Vane Krstevski sealed the tie with a crucial 87th-minute strike.

This result represents a significant upset in European qualifying, with the North Macedonian champions demonstrating remarkable resilience across both legs. Despite having significantly less possession, Shkëndija's organized defensive structure and clinical finishing proved the difference.

For FCSB, managed by Elias Charalambous, this elimination is particularly painful given their domestic dominance, having secured consecutive Romanian Superliga titles. They must now regroup as their Champions League dreams are shattered for another season, while Shkëndija will move forward with growing confidence to the next qualifying round.

"We are incredibly proud of this team's performance today. To come to Bucharest and secure victory against the Romanian champions shows the character and quality we possess. Our tactical approach worked perfectly, and the players executed our plan with discipline and determination," said Jeton Bekiri, KF Shkëndija's coach.

"This is a difficult pill to swallow. We expected to overturn the deficit at home, but we couldn't break down their defensive structure effectively enough. We must learn from this disappointment and focus on our domestic campaign," admitted FCSB manager Elias Charalambous.

"Sometimes in football, the team with less possession can be more effective. We knew we wouldn't dominate the ball, but we capitalized on our chances when they came. This is a historic result for our club," commented Shkëndija goalscorer Juri Cisotti.

"The early goal made our task much more difficult. We tried to fight back, but their organization was excellent. We apologize to our supporters who deserved better today," stated FCSB captain Vlad Chiricheş.

"What impressed me most about Shkëndija was their tactical discipline. They didn't panic even when FCSB equalized, and their game management in the closing stages was excellent for a team not used to this level of competition," observed Romanian football analyst Cosmin Contra.

Possession: FCSB 65% - 35% KF Shkëndija 79

Shots (On Target): FCSB 18 (6) - 7 (3) KF Shkëndija 79

Corners: FCSB 11 - 2 KF Shkëndija 79

Fouls: FCSB 8 - 14 KF Shkëndija 79

Yellow Cards: FCSB 1 - 3 KF Shkëndija 79

Despite dominating possession and creating more chances, FCSB struggled with their finishing, converting just one of six shots on target. In contrast, Shkëndija demonstrated clinical efficiency, scoring twice from just three shots on target.

Individual Performance Highlights:

Octavian Popescu (FCSB): 5 key passes, 4 successful dribbles, 87% pass completion

Juri Cisotti (Shkëndija): 1 goal, 2 interceptions, 75% defensive duels won

Baboucarr Gaye (Shkëndija): 5 saves, including 2 from inside the box

Daniel Bîrligea (FCSB): 6 shots, 2 on target, 0 goals

Vane Krstevski (Shkëndija): 1 goal from his only shot, 91% pass completion

The statistical dominance of FCSB reflects their territorial advantage, but Shkëndija's defensive organization (24 clearances, 16 interceptions) proved decisive in securing this memorable victory and qualification.

Pre-match (17:15): Both teams entered the Arena Naţională to a cacophony of noise, with FCSB supporters creating a spectacular tifo display covering the entire north stand.

28' GOAL! (0-1): Against the run of play, Juri Cisotti silenced the home crowd with a precise finish after a swift counter-attack orchestrated by Besart Ibraimi. The Shkëndija players celebrated wildly, knowing the away goal put them firmly in control of the tie.

33' GOAL! (1-1): FCSB responded quickly when Liridon Latifi found space in the penalty area and fired a powerful shot past Baboucarr Gaye. The stadium erupted as hope was restored for the Romanian champions.

45+2': Half-time arrived with FCSB pressing for another goal but unable to break through again. The tactical battle between Charalambous and Bekiri was fascinating, with FCSB dominating possession but Shkëndija looking dangerous on the counter.

65': A triple substitution by FCSB signaled their intent to push for the goal that would level the aggregate score. The Romanian side switched to a more direct 4-2-4 formation, sacrificing midfield control for attacking numbers.

76': A golden opportunity for FCSB as Bîrligea's header struck the crossbar with Gaye beaten. The Shkëndija defenders cleared desperately as the ball bounced around the penalty area.

87' GOAL! (1-2): The decisive moment came when substitute Vane Krstevski capitalized on a defensive error to slot home Shkëndija's second goal. The strike effectively ended FCSB's Champions League campaign, with the Romanian side needing three goals in the remaining minutes.

90+5': Full-time whistle brought jubilant celebrations from the Shkëndija players and their small contingent of traveling supporters, while the FCSB faithful departed in disappointed silence.

Prior to this qualifying tie, FCSB and KF Shkëndija 79 had never met in competitive European fixtures, making this their first-ever encounter. The historical context therefore lacks direct precedent, though both teams have faced clubs from each other's countries in previous European campaigns.

In the first leg played on July 22, 2025, Shkëndija secured a narrow 1-0 victory in North Macedonia despite having only 38% possession. This established a pattern that continued in the second leg, with FCSB dominating the ball but Shkëndija proving more clinical.

The aggregate score of 3-1 to Shkëndija represents one of the most significant upsets in recent Champions League qualifying history, considering the disparity in resources between Romanian and North Macedonian football.

Key Individual Battles:

Baboucarr Gaye vs. Daniel Bîrligea: The Shkëndija goalkeeper emerged victorious in this duel, making crucial saves to deny FCSB's forward who couldn't convert despite multiple opportunities.

Octavian Popescu vs. Ronaldo Webster: FCSB's creative midfielder found space regularly but was ultimately contained by Webster's disciplined defensive performance in critical moments.

Vlad Chiricheş vs. Besart Ibraimi: The experienced FCSB captain struggled against Ibraimi's movement and creativity, with the Shkëndija attacker playing a crucial role in both goals.

Tactical Analysis:

Across both legs, Shkëndija manager Jeton Bekiri outmaneuvered his counterpart with a disciplined low block and dangerous counter-attacking strategy. FCSB's possession-based approach proved ineffective against Shkëndija's compact defensive organization, highlighting the importance of efficiency over territorial dominance in knockout competitions.

This UEFA Champions League qualifying match has significant implications for both clubs' European campaigns:

FCSB:

• Elimination from the Champions League qualifying path (Position: Eliminated)
• Will drop into the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds
• Must now refocus on domestic competitions where they currently lead the Romanian Superliga
• Their strong domestic form (28 wins from 30 matches last season) will be tested as they balance league commitments with Europa League qualification

KF Shkëndija 79:

• Advances to the Third Qualifying Round of the Champions League (Position: Advancing)
• Will face Greek champions Olympiacos in the next round
• Regardless of the next round result, guaranteed at least a place in the Europa League playoff round
• Currently leading the Macedonian First League after an unbeaten start to their domestic campaign

This result represents a significant achievement for Macedonian football, with Shkëndija becoming the first club from North Macedonia to eliminate a Romanian champion in European competition since the country's independence. For FCSB, the early Champions League exit is a major disappointment given their domestic dominance and pre-season expectations of reaching at least the playoff round.