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With one foot in the second round of the 2026-27 Champions League qualifiers, KuPS welcome FK Vardar on Tuesday for the conclusion of their first-round tie.
The Finnish hosts hold a commanding 2-0 advantage from last week’s first leg, leaving their North Macedonian visitors with a mountain to climb in Kuopio.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
KuPS vs. FK Vardar key stats
- KuPS are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions.
- During that span, Tuesday’s hosts have opened the scoring and led at half time in four of those games.
- FK Vardar have conceded in each of their most recent three outings.
- However, their defeat to KuPS last time out ended an 11-match unbeaten run.
KuPS vs. FK Vardar preview: Can Vardar mount a dramatic turnaround
KuPS vs. FK Vardar — Tale of the Tape
| KuPS | vs | FK Vardar |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Veikkausliiga) | Position | 1st (1. MFL) |
| 30 | Points | 83 |
| 27 | Goals For | 80 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 21 |
| 5 | Clean Sheets | 15 |
| 3rd | Home / Away Rank | 1st |
Back in the Champions League qualifiers for a second consecutive season, KuPS are aiming to improve on last year’s second-round exit to Kairat Almaty, which ended in a 3-2 aggregate defeat.
Facing opponents ranked 242 places below them in the UEFA Club rankings, Miika Nuutinen’s side were expected to progress past Vardar in the opening round of this year’s qualifiers and made a strong start with a 2-0 first-leg victory.
Quickfire goals from Brahima Magassa and Bob Nii Armah put the Yellow-Blacks in pole position to advance ahead of their return to home turf, where they have lost just one of their last nine competitive matches.
Nonetheless, KuPS’ home record in European competition is less convincing, with only one win in their last five encounters, a key factor in their failure to reach the Conference League knockout stages last season.
Buoyed by the resurgence of Bob Nii Armah, who has scored six times this season after failing to net in his first 41 appearances, Tuesday’s hosts will be confident of finishing the job and setting up a second-round clash with either Sabah or TNS.
After ending last season on a seven-game winning run and a nine-match unbeaten streak – extended to 11 with friendly clashes over La Fiorita and Virtus – FK Vardar entered Tuesday’s encounter with KuPS in superb form.
However, four minutes of madness either side of half time have now left their hopes of reaching Europe’s premier club competition hanging by a thread.
Cristian Fabbiani’s side have not featured in Champions League qualifiers since a second-round defeat to Copenhagen in 2017, and now appear destined for an early exit unless they can produce a remarkable comeback at Savon Sanomat Areena.
Crveno-Crni have not won a Champions League qualifier away from home in the last 23 years, with their last triumph coming in a 2-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in Russia, underscoring the scale of the challenge they face.
Having led at the break in eight of their last ten matches, Tuesday’s visitors will be desperate for another strong first-half showing to give themselves and their travelling supporters a glimmer of hope that a comeback is possible.
KuPS vs. FK Vardar form guide & betting tips
| KuPS | vs | FK Vardar |
|---|---|---|
DWWWW |
Form | L
|
| 13 | Goals For | 0 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 2 |
W |
Champions League qualification | L |
Whispers predicts: KuPS 3-1 FK Vardar
Although KuPS do not need a win to advance to the next round, they are unlikely to ease off on Tuesday and are tipped to secure a routine victory at 3/5 (1.60).
While KuPS have kept consecutive clean sheets in their last two matches, FK Vardar are expected to get on the scoresheet here, making BTTS – Yes at 4/7 (1.57) a strong selection.
Both sides have a habit of fast starts, so First Half Over 1.5 at 6/5 (2.20) could prove a smart selection.
> Home to win at 3/5 (1.60) | Likelihood: Possible
> Both teams to score at at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 1.5 first-half goals at 6/5 (2.20) | Likelihood: Possible