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.
| Season | 2020–21 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8 August 2020 – 16 May 2021 |
| Champions | Shkëndija 4th domestic title |
| Relegated | Sileks Vardar Belasica |
| Champions League | Shkëndija |
| Europa Conference League | Shkupi Struga Sileks |
| Matches played | 198 |
| Goals scored | 485 (2.45 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Besart Ibraimi (24 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Sileks 6–0 Vardar (11 April 2021) |
| Biggest away win | Belasica 0–6 Sileks (9 August 2020) |
| Highest scoring | Rabotnichki 3–5 Shkëndija (28 April 2021) |
| Longest winning run | 8 games Shkëndija |
| Longest unbeaten run | 17 games Shkëndija |
| Longest winless run | 10 games Belasica Pelister Vardar |
| Longest losing run | 7 games Belasica |
← 2019–20 2021–22 →
All statistics correct as of 16 May 2021. | |
Promotion and relegation edit
Promoted from 2019–20 Second League Relegated to 2020–21 Second League
|
Promoted from 2020–21 Second League
Relegated to 2021–22 Second League |
Participating teams edit
Skopje
Skopje clubs:
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 edit
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 |  Aleksandar Vasoski
|
Sashko Pandev
|
 Sportika SA
|
Strumka, JOXX, Elenica |
| Belasica | Gjore Jovanovski
|
Aleksandar Milushev
|
Sportika SA
|
Pinda Shop |
| Borec | Borche Hristov
|
Trajche Trajkov
|
Legea
|
Brako |
| Makedonija G.P. | Zhikica Tasevski
|
Bobi Bozhinovski
|
Givova
|
betinasia, Tesla |
| Pelister | Dimitar Kapinkovski
|
Hristijan Dragarski
|
Legea
|
SN Broker |
| Rabotnički | Aleksandar Vlaho
|
Goran Siljanovski
|
 Joma
|
Seavus |
| Renova | Qatip Osmani
|
Argjent Gafuri
|
 Jako
|
Renova |
| Shkëndija |  Ernest Gjoka
|
Egzon Bejtulai
|
Macron
|
Ecolog |
| Shkupi | Goce Sedloski
|
Besar Iseni
|
 Sunrise
|
- |
| Sileks | Goran Simov
|
Angelche Timovski
|
Sunrise
|
- |
| Struga | Srgjan Zaharievski
|
Flamur Tairi
|
Adidas
|
Trim & Lum |
| Vardar | Nikola Ilievski
|
Dejan Blazhevski
|
 Hummel
|
Komiti Skopje |
League table edit
| 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:
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:
- ^ Sileks qualified for the Europa Conference League first qualifying round by winning the 2020–21 Macedonian Football Cup.
Results edit
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.
Positions by round edit
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.
| 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 edit
| Renova | 2–2 | Ohrid |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Penalties | ||
|
3–2 |
|
Season statistics edit
Top scorers edit
- As of 16 May 2021
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Besart Ibraimi
|
Shkëndija | 24 |
| 2 |  Dembo Darboe
|
Shkupi | 16 |
| 3 | Pepi Gorgiev
|
Sileks | 13 |
| 4 | Fahrudin Gjurgjevikj
|
Rabotnichki | 12 |
| 5 | Denis Ristov
|
Sileks | 9 |
| 6 |  Basit Abdul Khalid
|
Makedonija G.P. | 8 |
| Bobi Bozhinovski
|
Makedonija G.P. | ||
| Matej Cvetanoski
|
Vardar & Shkupi | ||
| Ivan Ivanovski
|
Sileks | ||
| Alen Jasharoski
|
Renova | ||
| Antonio Kalanoski
|
Belasica | ||
| Martin Mirchevski
|
Belasica & Vardar | ||
| Remzifaik Selmani
|
Renova | ||
| Shefit Shefiti
|
Renova | ||
| Luka Stankovski
|
Rabotnichki |
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "ДОБРЕДОЈДЕ ЗА ПЕЛИСТЕР И БЕЛАСИЦА – ПРВА ЛИГА СО 12 ЕКИПИ!". Sportmedia.mk. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ "ВМФЛ-Исток: Брегалница стигна до целта – титула и пласман во ПМФЛ! (ВИДЕО)". Gol.mk. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "ВМФЛ-Запад: Скопје се враќа во елитата, Гостивар во 94. минута ја освои Велешта". Gol.mk. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
- ^ "First League 2019/2020". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
External links edit
- Football Federation of Macedonia (in Macedonian)
- MacedonianFootball.com (in Macedonian and English)