Europa League Qualification: Rabotnicki – Rubin Kazan
Macedonian side Rabotnicki and Rubin Kazan face each other in the final round of qualification before the group stage of the Europa League. While Rubin Kazan have ambitions to advance, the Macedonians are the obvious underdog in this match up. In order to give you the best possible preview for this important match, we have teamed up with the editor at Macedonianfootball.com Aleksandar Zlateski.
Rabotnicki
Rabotnicki was formed in 1937 in the Macedonian capital of Skopje. In the city and throughout the country, however, Rabotnicki plays second fiddle to Vardar, a team that is much more popular. As a matter of fact, Rabotnicki is always near the bottom of the league when it comes to attendance. Their fan group is among the smallest in the top division, and the general public tends to stay away from league matches, unfortunately. That leads to their attendance being several hundred per game, if that.
The indifference towards the club in Macedonia is unfortunate. Rabotnicki is well organized and has stability (the owner and head coach have been there for years), but they are very limited financially. Their philosophy is to focus on its youth academy, promote the most talented youngsters and then sell them for a profit later on. Over the past year-and-a-half, they shipped Gjoko Zajkov to Rennes (France), Taulant Sulejmanov to Young Boys (Switzerland), Damjan Siskovski to Gent (Belgium) and Darko Velkovski to rival Vardar. Some of their veteran players, meanwhile, are added as free transfers. They are definitely an unheralded team that is the definition of underdog. Many of their players have been told they are not good enough when playing abroad, only to then return to Macedonia with Rabotnicki. Some have gone on trial to average clubs around Europe only to return without a contract.
In an independent Macedonian league, Rabotnicki has accumulated 4 league trophies and 4 cup trophies. Furthermore, they have been the best domestic representative by far in European competitions such as the UEFA Europa League over the past 5 years. They have brought heavyweights like Liverpool and Lazio to Macedonia in recent times. Yet, still they receive little attention and appreciation from the public and media. For instance, thus far, none of their home games in the Europa League qualifications have been televised. Yes, you read that right. We are in 2015, but no Macedonian channel has decided to televise their games in the Europa League. It is unclear whether that will chance in this matchup versus Rubin Kazan.
Team News
Rabotnicki will have two major absences for the first leg against Rubin Kazan. They will be missing Baze Ilijoski (received a total of 3 yellow cards) and Dusko Trajcevski (picked up 2 yellow cards in prior game). Both of them are suspended for one game. Ilijoski happens to be their captain and leading scorer, while Trajcevski is an important piece in defensive midfield. Additionally, Ivan Mitrov picked up a knock in a recent match and he will be questionable. Rabotnicki has little depth to begin with, so these absences will make their task even more difficult.
The head coach of Rabotnicki is Igor Angelovski, but he doesn’t possess a UEFA Pro Coaching Lisence. Thus, UEFA lists Tomislav Franc, an actual assistant, as their manager. Angelovski is currently in the process of obtaining that license, but that will likely not come until next year.
Rabotnicki made minimal changes to its squad over the summer. The only key player they lost was Darko Velkovski, but they replaced him with Kire Ristevski, a fringe national team player who is better than Velkovski at this time. Otherwise, all of their key players from last season returned. Continuity is one of their strengths.
Rabotnicki plays at the Philip II Arena in Skopje. That is always the venue of choice for Europa League games since that stadium is the only one that meets UEFA standards in the whole country. However, to illustrate the disrespect they face, Rabotnicki has been forced to play their league games this month in smaller stadiums across Skopje. The Macedonian federation wants to limit the games in the stadium so the pitch is in ideal shape for an upcoming EURO 2016 qualifier against Spain on September 8. Vardar has been playing at the Philip II Arena, but Rabotnicki has had to settle for smaller venues this month.
Formation and Playing Style
Rabotnicki usually deploys a 4-4-2 formation at home and a 4-3-2-1 formation on the road. Thus far, when playing on the road, they field three defensive midfielders, while at home they take one out and insert an extra attacker. However, with the absence of Ilijoski and Trajcevski, that may change. Ilijoski is their captain and someone the other players look up to.
The biggest strength for Rabotnicki is their chemistry. Being around these guys, you get a sense that they are truly brothers. What they may lack in talent and quality they make up in sheer will and determination. The players know their roles and there is absolutely no ego.
Rabotnicki doesn’t have one individual player that you can label as the main threat. Five different guys have scored their six total goals in these Europa League qualifications. Without Ilijoski in the first leg, just look at their three top attackers. Marjan Altiparamkovski used to feature in the Greek second division where he was average at best, then you have Chuma Anene who had a bad reputation in his birth country of Norway, and finally Suad Sahiti, someone they found from Kosovo, a country that is still not a FIFA member. So, those guys will be asked to trouble Rubin Kazan in the first leg. It’s really tough to explain this team and their success. Many of the players don’t pass the eye test, but they make it work.
Most of the players for Rabotnicki play for chump change, when compared to Rubin Kazan. They view these games as the place to impress scouts that may be watching. They all wish for greener pastures, of course, and that drives them.
Guys that are locks to start include Daniel Bozinovski at goalkeeper, Goran Siljanovski at right-back, Milan Ilievski and Kire Ristevski at center-back, Mite Cikarski at left-back, Stephan Vujcic and Milovan Petrovic at defensive midfield, and Chuma Anene, Suad Sahiti and Marjan Altiparmakovski in attack. That is a total of ten players, meaning the last starter is unknown due to the suspensions to Ilijoski and Trajcevski. If Ivan Mitrov, who himself is questionable, can’t go, then I believe the last starter will most likely be Miroslav Jovanoski.
Probable Line-up
Bozinovski – Siljanovski, Ilievski, Ristevski, Cikarski – Vujcic, Petrovic, Jovanoski(?) – Sahiti, Anene – Altiparmakovski.
Match Prediction
I have no idea how Rabotnicki plans to score a goal or create chances with those attackers. To me, the best case scenario for Rabotnicki in the first leg is 0:0, and then hope to surprise Rubin Kazan on the road when you have Baze Ilijoski and Dusko Trajcevski back. Away goals are obviously crucial, so keeping a clean sheet will be paramount in the first leg. My prediction for the first leg is either 0:0 or 0:1 for Rubin Kazan. I see that Rubin has been in terrible form to open the Russian season, but they are clearly the favorites. In saying that, Rubin should not underestimate Rabotnicki. This club defies logic and maybe, just maybe, they can become the first Macedonian club to ever reach the group stages of the Europa League.
Rubin Kazan
Rubin Kazan will go into this tie with some decent confidence. Having come through a tough couple of matches against Sturm Graz to win 4-3 on aggregate, they finally scored their first league goal and got their first points with a 1-0 win away at Kuban Krasnodar this weekend. Their shaky start to the season has seen them chop and change their line up and so without some stability they have struggled, particularly domestically.
However there is still hope, as they remain unbeaten in the Europa League qualifiers in their last 8 matches, and have tended to turn up against foreign opposition when it really matters. Against an unknown quantity in Rabotnicki they will be wary, particularly after they would have seen them claim the scalp of Trabzonspor in the previous round, and the tie should be a very interesting spectacle.
Team news
Rubin have a couple of knocks and niggles at the moment. Elmir Nabiullin and Carlos Eduardo seemed to struggle against Kuban, while midfielder Albert Sharipov didn’t feature in the squad and will likely miss out. Other than this Rubin have most of their squad fit, it will just be a case of who plays. Uruguayan duo Mauricio Lemos and Guillermo Cotugno were rested at the weekend and so will be fully rested in preparation for this match should they be needed.
Formation and playing style
In recent weeks the team have been very disjointed on the pitch, but against Kuban they looked back to their counter attacking best, and really should have put another couple of goals away, only denied by poor finishing and terrible goalkeeping.
They’ve been keeping to their 4-2-3-1 formation as a basic shape. The wingbacks push on, and the holding midfielders are box to box players. The only thing that tends to change the play is who is up front. Kanunnikov has played in recent weeks and his pace means we play along the floor, but if Portnyagin plays, Rubin will look to cross the ball in as he is such a threat in the air.
Goalkeeper Ryzhikov distributes the ball as quick as he can, aiming for Portnyagin, who will hold up the ball if possible for Carlos Eduardo, who sits just behind him as the creative hook of the side. However recently, he has been pushed out wide to accommodate new signing Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
Probable line-up
Ryzhikov – Kuzmin, Kverkvelia, Kambolov, Cotugno – Ozdoev, Georgiev – Eduardo, Bilyaletdinov, Karadeniz – Kanunnikov
Match prediction
I know nothing about Rabotnicki, but after their previous heroics, I can see us being cautious and therefore a low scoring game will play out, despite our shaky defence. I will say a 1-1 draw.
Вратарская игра Артёма Реброва и Игоря Акинфеева стала украшением дерби. Неоднократно киперы спасали свои ворота от забитых мячей. Одно из таких спасений произошло в самом начале поединка. На 15-й минуте Алан Дзагоев мощно зарядил из-за пределов штрафной площади. Мяч, встретив на пути спину Глушакова, изменил направление полёта, однако Ребров с ударом справился.
«Рубин» одержал первую победу в чемпионате, а Рыжиков отстоял матч на ноль. Несмотря на то что у «Кубани» были шансы забить, реализовать их подопечные Дмитрия Хохлова не сумели. Одна из таких возможностей представилась южанам на 39-й минуте. Игнатьев сделал точный пас на Павлюченко, но тот не сумел должным образом пробить по воротам. Рыжиков оказался в нужном месте в нужное время.
Тройку лучших сейвов этого тура открывает Роман Герус. На 40-й минуте матча с «Анжи» голкипер «Амкара» отразил удар Леонардо. После передачи товарища по команде бразилец эффектно пробил в падении – Герус кончиками пальцев перевёл мяч на угловой.
Акинфеев снова заставил о себе говорить, продемонстрировав отличную игру в матче со «Спартаком». А на 58-й минуте капитан ЦСКА по-настоящему спас свою команду. Мовсисян в штрафной сделал передачу на свободного Промеса, тот в касание пробил в дальний угол — Игорь в прыжке парировал удар.
На первом месте сейв, который мог изменить результат матча между «Крыльями» и «Ростовом». На 94-й минуте самарцы заработали угловой. Бурлак выиграл верховую борьбу и пробил по воротам. Мяч летел в самый угол, но Сослан Джанаев сумел среагировать и сохранить ничейный результат.
5 лучших сейвов 5-го тура РФПЛ
Джанаев в концовке матча спасает «Ростов», а Акинфеев парирует удар Промеса. Самые яркие сейвы 5-го тура РФПЛ – в нашем обзоре.
5-е место: Артём Ребров
Вратарская игра Артёма Реброва и Игоря Акинфеева стала украшением дерби. Неоднократно киперы спасали свои ворота от забитых мячей. Одно из таких спасений произошло в самом начале поединка. На 15-й минуте Алан Дзагоев мощно зарядил из-за пределов штрафной площади. Мяч, встретив на пути спину Глушакова, изменил направление полёта, однако Ребров с ударом справился.
4-е место: Сергей Рыжиков
«Рубин» одержал первую победу в чемпионате, а Рыжиков отстоял матч на ноль. Несмотря на то что у «Кубани» были шансы забить, реализовать их подопечные Дмитрия Хохлова не сумели. Одна из таких возможностей представилась южанам на 39-й минуте. Игнатьев сделал точный пас на Павлюченко, но тот не сумел должным образом пробить по воротам. Рыжиков оказался в нужном месте в нужное время.
3-е место: Роман Герус
Тройку лучших сейвов этого тура открывает Роман Герус. На 40-й минуте матча с «Анжи» голкипер «Амкара» отразил удар Леонардо. После передачи товарища по команде бразилец эффектно пробил в падении – Герус кончиками пальцев перевёл мяч на угловой.
2-е место: Игорь Акинфеев
Акинфеев снова заставил о себе говорить, продемонстрировав отличную игру в матче со «Спартаком». А на 58-й минуте капитан ЦСКА по-настоящему спас свою команду. Мовсисян в штрафной сделал передачу на свободного Промеса, тот в касание пробил в дальний угол — Игорь в прыжке парировал удар.
1-е место: Сослан Джанаев
На первом месте сейв, который мог изменить результат матча между «Крыльями» и «Ростовом». На 94-й минуте самарцы заработали угловой. Бурлак выиграл верховую борьбу и пробил по воротам. Мяч летел в самый угол, но Сослан Джанаев сумел среагировать и сохранить ничейный результат.
Общий зачёт
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | G | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CSKA Moskva | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 15 |
| 2 | Zenit | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 12 |
| 3 | Lokomotiv Moskva | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 11 |
| 4 | Spartak Moskva | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 10 |
| 5 | Rostov | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 9 |
| 6 | Krasnodar | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 8 |
| 7 | Dinamo Moskva | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 8 |
| 8 | Amkar Perm' | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | +0 | 7 |
| 9 | Ufa | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 5 |
| 10 | Ural | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 4 |
| 11 | Krylya Sovetov | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 4 |
| 12 | Terek Grozny | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 4 |
| 13 | Mordovia Saransk | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 14 | Kuban' Krasnodar | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| 15 | Rubin Kazan' | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 3 |
| 16 | Anzhi | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 1 |
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