Slovan Bratislava was crowned Slovakian Champion for the 22nd time and 6th consecutive time in their history. Under the leadership of Vladimir Weiss, who has been at the helm since May 2021, the team has shown consistent performance. They are currently in the preparation phase for the new season, which begins on July 27. In their four friendlies, they secured two victories and suffered two defeats. The team saw the departure of Zmrhal (28/3), Kankava (20/1), and Risvanis (2/0). However, they acquired the valuable striker Robert Mak, who is expected to be present for this match. Coach Weiss has some serious problems for this match, because key players Barseghyan (31/13) and Blackman (26/2) are out. Additionally, Strelec (28/11), Kashia (24/2), and Kucka (23/3) were involved with their national teams and missed the preparation period, making their participation in the first match doubtful.
Struga, founded in 2015, has quickly risen to prominence, becoming the champions of Macedonia twice. Despite their success, they experienced a coaching change with Duro leaving and Katip Osmani taking over. Osmani has a proven track record in the region, including successful runs in European competitions with Shkendija. Struga has strengthened their squad with reinforcements like Kire Ristevski, Stefan Spirovski (both former Macedonian national team players), and Nigerian striker Lanre Kehinde, who scored 12 goals for Gostivar last season.
Slovan's performance in their friendlies has been mixed, indicating potential vulnerabilities. The absence of key players like Barseghyan and Blackman, along with the uncertain status of others, could impact their effectiveness. Struga's rapid rise and recent successes in domestic and European competitions make them a formidable opponent. The addition of experienced players further bolsters their squad, enhancing their competitiveness.
Last season, Slovan struggled against Luxembourg's Swit Hesperange, managing only a 1-1 draw at home before winning 0-2 away. This indicates potential difficulties in early-season European matches.