体坛英语新闻：Macedonia capital prepares for Shkendija-Milan Europa League qualifier

SKOPJE, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Skopje authorities announced to block several streets and boulevards as a security measure on Thursday when the Macedonian capital hosts a UEFA Europa League qualifier between local club Shkendija and Italian Serie A side A.C. Milan.

"Downtown Skopje will be put under a special traffic regime on Thursday, because of the football match to be played at the Philip II of Macedonian arena at 20:45h," a state police press release informed.

According to the police, traffic will be limited on Ilinden boulevard and the Risto Siskov, Amyntas III and Naum Naumovski Borce streets, as well as at the Lazar Licenoski street and the stadium service street in Skopje starting from 15:00 local time.

Only pedestrians who have tickets will be allowed inside the enclosed area.

This will be the second match Macedonia's Shkendija playing against AC Milan. In the first leg played in Italy, AC Milan won a thumping victory 3-0.

It was actually the first time that the Macedonian team was facing an elite European club. However, they didn't expect a defeat of such magnitude.