North Macedonian champions Shkëndija opened their UEFA Conference League group stage campaign with a 2-0 defeat in Madrid against Rayo Vallecano, reports Telegrafi.
For the red and black team from Tetovo, this was the first historic match in a group stage of a European competition, thus ranking them among the debutants of this season.
The match in “Vallecas” started with great pressure from the home team. Rayo took control of the game from the first minutes and moved the action to Shkëndija’s half, creating several dangerous half-chances. In the 20th minute, after a corner kick, Klinsman Cake almost scored an own goal. The pressure from the Madrid team bore fruit quickly, within just four minutes, Shkëndija suffered two counterattacks. López scored in the 28th minute, while Pérez doubled the score in the 32nd.
Until the end of the first half the numbers did not change, while in the second half Rayo seemed to be content with the lead. The Spaniards kept the ball, while Shkëndija showed its helplessness to take risks. The statistics proved this difference: Shkëndija recorded only one shot on goal, in the 82nd minute from over 30 meters away, despite more than 20 attempts by the locals towards Gaye’s goal.
Shkëndija will have the opportunity to seek its first points in this European competition in the next match, which it will play in Skopje against the Irish representative, Shelbourne. /Telegraph/