AC Milan vs Shkendija, who is our opponent?

AC Milan will face FK Shkendija in the Europa League playoffs. The two matches are scheduled for 17 and 24 August. First leg in San Siro, return in Skopje. The Macedonians have passed three preliminary rounds.

An easy draw for AC Milan in Nyon. In the Europa League playoffs, that give the winning team the chance to enter group stage, the rossoneri find the vice-champions of Macedonia FK Shkendija . The first match is scheduled for 17 August in San Siro and return is on 24 August in Skopje in the stadium that before this match will host the European Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Manchester United. Among the most dangerous opponents avoided by AC Milan were the Red Star of Belgrade and AEK Athens.

The rivals are rossoneri too. The Macedonian team (ethnic Albanians more precisely) are 314th on UEFA’s ranking and have not won the domestic championship since 2011. In the last two seasons they ended the tournament in second place.

This summer the Tetovo club, coached by Qatip Osmani, has already passed three preliminary rounds in Europa League, first against Dacia, then with Helsinki, and finally with Trakai. Last night’s 3-0 win against the Lithuanians highlighted two of best players of Shkendija: Besart Ibraimi, former player of Schalke 04 in 2010 and ex Wolfsburg winger Ferhan Hasani, who scored twice.