Shkendija Tetovo and Hibernian played out a cagey 0-0 draw in their UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying first leg on 14 August 2026. The North Macedonian hosts cancelled out the Scottish side's attacking threats in a match defined by disciplined defending and a lack of clear-cut chances in the final third.

A Cagey Opening in Tetovo

Hibernian entered the contest as favourites, boasting a deeper European pedigree and a squad with considerably higher club value. However, Shkendija Tetovo proved stubborn opponents, arranging themselves in a compact 4-4-2 shape and inviting Hibs to try and break them down. The Edinburgh side enjoyed the lion's share of possession but made little headway against the well-organised home defence.

The best chance of the first half fell to Hibernian's centre-forward, who forced a sharp save from the home goalkeeper after a quick exchange on the edge of the box. Shkendija, meanwhile, looked dangerous sporadically on the counter-attack, with their pacey wideman twice testing the Hibs full-back with incisive runs.

Key Moments

• Goalkeeping heroics: The home keeper made two important saves in the first half, including a one-on-one stop that kept the scoreline level.
• Late pressure on Hibs: Shkendija finished the stronger, forcing a fine save from the Hibernian goalkeeper in the 88th minute.
• Missed penalty shouts: A scramble in the Hibs box with fifteen minutes remaining sparked appeals from the home crowd, but play was waved on.

Tactical Battle

Hibernian controlled the tempo with 62% possession, moving the ball patiently across midfield. But their passing became increasingly sideways as Shkendija's deep block refused to shift out of position. The hosts' strategy was clear: remain compact, frustrate the opponent, and break quickly through their wide forwards. In the end, both teams left the pitch with reasons for satisfaction — Hibs for securing a clean away result, and Shkendija for keeping the tie alive.

Second Leg Prospects

The scoreless draw means everything is still to play for in Edinburgh. Hibernian will be confident, knowing they can rely on their home crowd to push them over the line. Shkendija Tetovo, however, have shown they are tactically astute and will fancy their chances of nicking an away goal on the break. In the broader context of the Conference League, this tie remains finely balanced and could easily swing in either direction in the second leg.