Match overview
Bitola’s Stadion pod Tumbe Kafe will host a clash that promises noise and goals when Pelister welcome Rabotnicki on 12/02/2026 in Round 17 of the Macedonian First League. On paper this is a mid-to-lower table duel: Pelister sit ninth with 16 points from 16 games while Rabotnicki are languishing in 11th with just seven points. Yet the raw numbers and recent results suggest this won’t be a cagey, low-event fixture — there are trends pointing toward an open affair.
Form and recent trends
Pelister arrive with a mixed sequence of outcomes but with an attack capable of producing multi-goal scores. Their recent run shows lots of draws peppered with a couple of wins; their last five competitive reports include high-scoring draws (2-2 and 3-3 in friendlies) and a solid 3-0 league win at Shkupi earlier in the campaign. Offensively Pelister have registered 17 league goals so far and show a propensity for games that move past the two-goal mark: 62.5% of their matches have ended over 2.5.
Rabotnicki’s season has been a struggle in the table, though not without offensive fireworks in isolated matches. Despite just one official league win to date, their friendly form included a runaway 8-2 result, and their away matches have frequently seen both teams scoring — Rabotnicki’s away fixtures show a BTTS percentage north of 70%. Defensively both teams have leaked chances through the campaign — Pelister conceded 27, Rabotnicki 29 — and that vulnerability is a key context for anyone weighing goal markets.
Tactical outlook and head-to-head
The only recent league meeting between these sides ended in a decisive 3-0 victory for Rabotnicki back in September, proving either side can produce a dominant scoreline on its day. Home advantage for Pelister in Bitola matters — the city stadium’s 6,100 capacity can lift the hosts — but Rabotnicki’s away goal proclivity suggests they won’t simply sit back.
Both teams average around 8–9 total shots per match and show similar profiles in dangerous attacks, meaning the coming contest should feature half-chances and openings that are likely to be converted given the defensive records shown across the season.
Betting angle and context
Given the statistical canvas — Pelister’s high over-2.5 rate, Rabotnicki’s tendency for open away matches and high goals conceded on both sides — the clearest value lies in the goals market. If you want to refine timing and approach to such markets, consider reading about the right time to place bets on goal markets. For broader guidance on choosing markets across fixtures like this, the piece on soccer betting tips and the choice of markets is a useful companion.
Betting suggestion (goal market): Back Over 2.5 goals. Rationale: both teams have shown an appetite for open games this season, Pelister’s matches have gone over 2.5 at a high clip and Rabotnicki’s away fixtures frequently feature both teams scoring. There’s also historical precedent of decisive scorelines between these sides and recent friendlies that underline goal potential. Stake cautiously and consider match live monitoring to hedge if the game starts slowly — but pre-match value for Over 2.5 looks the strongest single-market play based on the data.
