Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
La Fiorita and Vardar Skopje drew 1–1 in a Club Friendly in Norcia, Italy, with M. Bonetti scoring in the 22nd minute and G. Rodrigues equalising in the 48th.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
La Fiorita struck first midway through the opening half. Bonetti found the net in the 22nd minute to put the San Marino champions ahead against a Vardar side still finding its rhythm in pre-season. The score remained 1–0 at the break.
Vardar emerged sharper after half-time. Within three minutes of the restart, Rodrigues — a Luxembourg national-team forward — equalised after being set up by Danev. The goal came in the 48th minute and brought Vardar level. Neither team created a clear late winner, and the game settled into a typical pre-season tempo.
No cards were recorded during the match, reflecting the friendly nature of the contest.
The turning point
The early second-half response was the defining phase. Vardar conceded first in a friendly for the second time in their pre-season camp in Norcia, but Rodrigues' 48th-minute equaliser — just three minutes after the restart — stopped La Fiorita from building on their lead and reset the match. After the goal, both sides made changes typical of a pre-season friendly, and the contest lost its competitive edge.
Key performers
G. Rodrigues (Vardar Skopje) — The Luxembourg forward scored the equaliser that preserved Vardar's unbeaten run in pre-season. His movement off the shoulder of the defence created the space for Danev's assist.
M. Bonetti (La Fiorita) — Scored the opening goal in the 22nd minute with a composed finish, his second goal in as many meetings against Vardar across all competitions.
D. Danev (Vardar Skopje) — Provided the assist for Rodrigues' equaliser and was one of Vardar's more creative outlets in the final third.
By the numbers — interpreted
The match produced two goals with no cards recorded. La Fiorita controlled the first 45 minutes, converting their best chance through Bonetti. Vardar dominated the opening phase of the second half and got their reward inside three minutes.
Both previous meetings between these sides had gone over 2.5 total goals with both teams scoring, but this encounter stayed under that threshold — a sign of early-season rust and prioritising fitness over risk.
What it means
For Vardar Skopje, this was their second fixture of pre-season training in Norcia, Italy, as they build towards the first qualifying round of the Champions League. The Macedonian champions face KuPS from Finland on 7 July in Skopje in the first leg of UCL Q1. They have another friendly scheduled for 30 June against Virtus.
La Fiorita used the match as a tune-up before their own European campaign begins, likely in the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds.
Verdict
A functional pre-season draw that told both managers more about squad depth than scoreline significance. Vardar's quick response after the break was the takeaway; La Fiorita's first-half organisation showed they can hold their own against superior opposition. The real business starts in July.
Match Events
Key match events between La Fiorita and Vardar Skopje — 2 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2025
La Fiorita vs Vardar Skopje Head to Head Results· 2
La Fiorita and Vardar Skopje have met 2 times — La Fiorita won 0, Vardar Skopje won 1, with 1 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2025. Vardar Skopje leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 2 meetings. A combined 7 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.50 per match (2 for the home side, 5 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (50%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–2 in 2025.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 29 Jun 2026