2020–21 Macedonian First Football League

Macedonian First Football League
Season2020–21
Dates8 August 2020 –
16 May 2021
ChampionsShkëndija
4th domestic title
RelegatedSileks
Vardar
Belasica
Champions LeagueShkëndija
Europa Conference LeagueShkupi
Struga
Sileks
Matches played198
Goals scored485 (2.45 per match)
Top goalscorerBesart Ibraimi
(24 goals)
Biggest home winSileks 6–0 Vardar
(11 April 2021)
Biggest away winBelasica 0–6 Sileks
(9 August 2020)
Highest scoringRabotnichki 3–5 Shkëndija
(28 April 2021)
Longest winning run8 games
Shkëndija
Longest unbeaten run17 games
Shkëndija
Longest winless run10 games
Belasica
Pelister
Vardar
Longest losing run7 games
Belasica
All statistics correct as of 16 May 2021.

The 2020–21 Macedonian First League was the 29th season of the Macedonian First Football League, the highest football league of North Macedonia. It began on 8 August 2020 and ended on 16 May 2021. Vardar were the defending champions, having won their eleventh title in 2019–20 after was season abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were the third defending champions to be relegated as defending champions.

Promotion and relegation

At the end of the 2019–20 season

Promoted from 2019–20 Second League

Relegated to 2020–21 Second League

  • None relegated
At the end of the 2020–21 season

Promoted from 2020–21 Second League

Relegated to 2021–22 Second League

Participating teams

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Location of teams in 2020–21 Macedonian First League
Akademija Pandev
Belasica 		Borec Makedonija G.P. Pelister Rabotnički
Vardar
Blagoj Istatov Stadium
UEFA 		Zoran Paunov Stadium Gjorče Petrov Stadium Tumbe Kafe Stadium Toše Proeski Arena
UEFA
Capacity: 9,200 Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 3,000 Capacity: 9,100 Capacity: 36,460
Renova
Shkëndija 		Shkupi Sileks Struga
Tetovo Stadium Park Stadium City Stadium Kratovo Gradska Plaža Stadium
Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 6,000 Capacity: 4,800 Capacity: 2,500

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Akademija Pandev North Macedonia Aleksandar Vasoski North Macedonia Sashko Pandev Italy Sportika SA Strumka, JOXX, Elenica
Belasica North Macedonia Gjore Jovanovski North Macedonia Aleksandar Milushev Italy Sportika SA Pinda Shop
Borec North Macedonia Borche Hristov North Macedonia Trajche Trajkov Italy Legea Brako
Makedonija G.P. North Macedonia Zhikica Tasevski North Macedonia Bobi Bozhinovski Italy Givova betinasia, Tesla
Pelister North Macedonia Dimitar Kapinkovski North Macedonia Hristijan Dragarski Italy Legea SN Broker
Rabotnički North Macedonia Aleksandar Vlaho North Macedonia Goran Siljanovski Spain Joma Seavus
Renova North Macedonia Qatip Osmani North Macedonia Argjent Gafuri Germany Jako Renova
Shkëndija Albania Ernest Gjoka North Macedonia Egzon Bejtulai Italy Macron Ecolog
Shkupi North Macedonia Goce Sedloski North Macedonia Besar Iseni Serbia Sunrise -
Sileks Serbia Goran Simov North Macedonia Angelche Timovski Serbia Sunrise -
Struga North Macedonia Srgjan Zaharievski North Macedonia Flamur Tairi Germany Adidas Trim & Lum
Vardar North Macedonia Nikola Ilievski North Macedonia Dejan Blazhevski Denmark Hummel Komiti Skopje

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Shkëndija (C) 33 22 9 2 69 26 +43 75 Qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
2 Shkupi 33 16 11 6 41 24 +17 59 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round
3 Struga 33 15 12 6 39 24 +15 57
4 Makedonija G.P. 33 16 7 10 53 43 +10 55
5 Rabotnički 33 11 15 7 45 39 +6 48
6 Pelister 33 12 9 12 34 38 −4 45
7 Akademija Pandev 33 12 5 16 32 36 −4 41
8 Borec 33 11 7 15 32 36 −4 40
9 Sileks (R) 33 10 6 17 49 45 +4 36 Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round and relegation play-off[a]
10 Renova (O) 33 8 12 13 36 46 −10 36 Qualification for the relegation play-off
11 Vardar (R) 33 7 10 16 32 60 −28 31 Relegation to the Macedonian Second League
12 Belasica (R) 33 4 5 24 23 68 −45 17
Source: MacedonianFootball.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 7) Head-to-head goals scored; 8) Draw; 9) Play-off. (Note: Criteria 2, 3 and 8 is only used if not deciding Champion, teams for UEFA competitions or relegation).[4]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Sileks qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round by winning the 2020–21 Macedonian Football Cup.

Results

Every team will play three times against each other team for a total of 33 matches. The first 22 matchdays will consist of a regular double round-robin schedule. The league standings at this point will then be used to determine the games for the last 11 matchdays.

Home \ Away AKP BEL BOR MGP PEL RAB REN SKË SKU SIL STR VAR AKP BEL BOR MGP PEL RAB REN SKË SKU SIL STR VAR
Akademija Pandev — 1–2 2–1 2–1 3–2 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 — — 3–1 — — — 1–1 — 0–1 — 1–0 3–0
Belasica 0–0 — 2–2 1–3 0–2 2–2 1–1 0–3 0–2 0–6 1–2 0–3 0–2 — — 0–2 — 1–1 — 0–3 — 1–3 — —
Borec 2–0 2–1 — 2–1 3–0 0–0 1–1 0–2 0–1 2–0 2–1 0–2 — 1–0 — — 0–0 — 2–0 — 0–1 — 0–1 2–0
Makedonija G.P. 3–1 2–1 0–0 — 2–1 2–1 2–3 0–1 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–1 1–2 — 2–1 — 3–0 — — 3–4 — 0–3 2–3 —
Pelister 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–0 — 0–0 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–0 — — — — 1–0 — — 3–2 — 2–0
Rabotnički 0–0 2–0 2–1 1–3 1–0 — 3–1 0–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 — 2–1 2–2 3–1 — — 3–5 — 3–1 — —
Renova 2–0 2–4 1–0 1–3 0–0 0–1 — 1–3 0–0 0–0 0–0 3–0 — 3–1 — 1–2 — 1–1 — 0–3 — 2–1 — —
Shkëndija 2–1 2–0 1–1 5–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 — 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–1 1–0 — 3–1 — 1–0 — — — 1–1 2–1 0–2 —
Shkupi 0–0 3–1 3–0 3–1 1–0 0–2 4–3 2–2 — 1–0 1–2 1–1 — 0–1 — 0–0 0–0 2–0 1–2 — — — — 2–0
Sileks 1–2 0–1 1–2 0–3 2–2 4–3 3–1 1–2 0–1 — 0–0 1–0 3–2 — 1–1 — — — — — 1–3 — 0–1 6–0
Struga 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–0 — 2–2 — 3–1 — — 3–0 1–1 0–0 — 0–0 — — 1–0
Vardar 2–0 3–1 0–1 2–2 2–2 0–0 3–3 1–5 1–0 0–4 1–1 — — 1–0 — 0–2 — 1–3 1–1 1–6 — — — —
Source: MacedonianFootball.com
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
Shkëndija532311111111111111111111111111111
Shkupi623232222223322222222222222222222
Struga8107968555554466544444444444444433
Makedonija G.P.279475333332233333333333333333344
Rabotnički986746779988888787555555555555555
Pelister44589799889991010111010998777776666666
Akademija Pandev111111111111101011111110111111101111111111111088887791087
Borec358653444445644656776666667887778
Sileks111124666667755468889991011991088899
Renova794510101111101010111099999101010101111910109101091010
Vardar106101089887776577875667889101111111111111111
Belasica121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212121212
Leader and qualification for the Champions League first qualifying round
Qualification for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round
Qualification for the Relegation play-off
Relegation to the Macedonian Second League
Source: macedonianfootball.com

Relegation play-offs

Renova2–2Ohrid
  • Shefiti 19', 89'
 Report
  • Trpeski 5'
  • Mitev 50'
Penalties
  • Mishkovski soccer ball with red X
  • Ramadani soccer ball with check mark
  • Stojchevski soccer ball with check mark
  • Shefiti soccer ball with check mark
 3–2
  • soccer ball with check mark Mazari
  • soccer ball with check mark Gjorgjieski
  • soccer ball with red X Trpeski
  • soccer ball with red X Naumovski
  • soccer ball with red X Veljanoski
Attendance: 0
Referee: Marjan Eckoski (Ohrid)
Tikvesh1–0Sileks
  • Spahiu 54'
 Report
Attendance: 0
Referee: Aleksandar Grujoski (Kichevo)

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of 16 May 2021
Rank Player Club Goals
1 North Macedonia Besart Ibraimi Shkëndija 24
2 The Gambia Dembo Darboe Shkupi 16
3 North Macedonia Pepi Gorgiev Sileks 13
4 North Macedonia Fahrudin Gjurgjevikj Rabotnichki 12
5 Serbia Denis Ristov Sileks 9
6 Ghana Basit Abdul Khalid Makedonija G.P. 8
North Macedonia Bobi Bozhinovski Makedonija G.P.
North Macedonia Matej Cvetanoski Vardar & Shkupi
North Macedonia Ivan Ivanovski Sileks
North Macedonia Alen Jasharoski Renova
North Macedonia Antonio Kalanoski Belasica
North Macedonia Martin Mirčevski Belasica & Vardar
North Macedonia Remzifaik Selmani Renova
Albania Shefit Shefiti Renova
North Macedonia Luka Stankovski Rabotnichki

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "ДОБРЕДОЈДЕ ЗА ПЕЛИСТЕР И БЕЛАСИЦА – ПРВА ЛИГА СО 12 ЕКИПИ!". Sportmedia.mk. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. ^ "ВМФЛ-Исток: Брегалница стигна до целта – титула и пласман во ПМФЛ! (ВИДЕО)". Gol.mk. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. ^ "ВМФЛ-Запад: Скопје се враќа во елитата, Гостивар во 94. минута ја освои Велешта". Gol.mk. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  4. ^ "First League 2019/2020". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 5 August 2019.