SKOPJE, North Macedonia (Interstat) — Vardar delivered a devastating and record-extending performance Saturday, routing crosstown rival Shkupi 7-0 in a First League match that underscored the vast gulf between the two sides in the Macedonian football pyramid.

The match, played at Shkupi’s Trening Centar Petar Miloševski 2, was effectively decided within the opening minute. Vardar’s Goran Zakarić needed just 10 seconds to find the net, setting a blistering pace and silencing the home supporters. That early strike set the tone for a one-sided affair that saw Vardar score in waves.

David Babunski doubled the advantage in the 44th minute, and Endrit Rustemi compounded Shkupi’s misery by adding a third goal in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, sending the visitors into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.

The second half offered no respite for a beleaguered Shkupi defense. Dimitar Todorovski scored in the 56th minute, followed by goals from Stefan Cvetković in the 73rd and Ediz Spahiu in the 83rd. Azer Omeragikj completed the rout in the second minute of added time, sealing the 7-0 scoreline.

The result was a stark contrast to the pregame projection by Interstat’s game simulator, which had predicted a 1-1 draw. The firm’s ELO rating system, however, had given Vardar a 93.70 percent probability to win, a forecast that proved profoundly accurate.

The victory reinforces Vardar’s dominant position in the First League, improving their season record to 19 wins, two losses and five draws. They remain firmly in contention for the title. For Shkupi, the defeat is another low point in a historically difficult campaign. They remain winless in the league through 29 matches, with a record of 25 losses and four draws. Their record across all competitions this season now stands at three wins, 27 losses and five draws.

The head-to-head history between the clubs this season has been brutally one-sided. This 7-0 triumph follows a 6-1 Vardar victory on Nov. 30, 2025, and a 4-2 win on Aug. 29, 2025, meaning Vardar has outscored Shkupi 17-3 over their three meetings in the 2025-2026 campaign.

Vardar entered the match looking to rebound from a surprising 4-1 loss to Karaorman Struga just two days prior on Thursday. They demonstrated no lingering effects from that defeat, instead showcasing the attacking form that has seen them score five or more goals in four separate league matches this season.

Shkupi, meanwhile, continues to struggle with defensive consistency. This marks the fifth time this league season they have conceded six or more goals in a match, including a 7-0 loss to Belasica and 6-0 defeats to Shkendija and Sileks.

Vardar will look to carry this momentum into their next First League fixture, a home match against GFK Tikvesh Kavadarci on Sunday, April 26. Shkupi faces another challenging test, traveling to face KF Arsimi-1973 Chegrane on Friday, April 24, as they continue their search for a first league victory of the season.