Mkhitaryan in Action, Takesian on the Scoresheet, Cancarevic Debuts: A Week of Armenian Footballers

Sportaran.com is launching a new weekly feature in which we take a detailed look at how Armenian footballers performed throughout the week — from Monday to Monday — in both official and friendly matches.

European football is gradually emerging from the winter break: some leagues have already resumed, while others are limited to friendly fixtures for now. We have compiled all matches involving Armenian players between January 12 and January 19, covering top divisions, youth competitions, and lower leagues.

It is worth noting that Armenian foreigners recorded goal contributions in official matches only in Greece’s Super League 2, and notably in the very same match.

Armenian Footballers This Past Week (January 12–19)

Official Matches

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Inter, Serie A)

The 36-year-old former Armenia national team captain had a busy week, featuring in two Serie A matches. On January 20, Mkhitaryan is set to face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League, and on January 21 he will turn 37.

January 14 (Wednesday) — Inter vs Lecce (1:0)
• 72 minutes played
• SofaScore rating: 7.2

January 17 (Saturday) — Inter vs Udinese (1:0)
• 77 minutes played
• SofaScore rating: 6.7

Inter secured two narrow 1:0 victories and continue to lead Serie A, holding a three-point advantage over AC Milan.

Grant-Leon Ranos (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bundesliga)

The 22-year-old Armenia international was involved in two matches during the week but did not take the field.

January 14 — Loss to Hoffenheim (1:5)
January 17 — Draw with Hamburg (0:0)

Ranos was named in the squad for both games but remained on the bench. Borussia’s youth team played friendlies during this period, though Ranos did not feature.

Finn Geragousian (Sunderland U21, Premier League 2, England)

The 18-year-old Armenia U21 striker opened 2026 with a matchin England’s Premier League 2.

In Round 11 against Newcastle U21, Geragousian played the full 90 minutes. The match ended in a 1:1 draw.

Artur Miranyan (Bnei Sakhnin, Israeli Premier League)

The 30-year-old Armenia international forward completed the full match on January 17 against Maccabi Netanya.

• 90 minutes played
• SofaScore rating: 6.3
• Bnei Sakhnin win — 2:1
• Team climbed to 7th place in the table

In 2026, Miranyan has already played three matches, being substituted in only one of them.

Narek Grigoryan (Farul Constanța, Romanian SuperLiga)

In the first official match after the winter break, Farul drew 1:1 with Hermannstadt on January 17.

• 71 minutes played
• SofaScore rating: 6.8
• Stats: 1 shot, 1 key pass, 5 duels won

Garabet Takesian (Egaleo) & Edgar Movsisyan (Chania)

Super League 2, Greece

The only official match of the week in which Armenian players registered goal contributions.

January 18, Round 17:
• Garabet Takesian (19) scored his first senior career goal
• Edgar Movsesyan provided an assist — in just his second match for his new club
• Egaleo won 3:1

Albert Mnatsakanyan (Luftëtari, Albanian First Division)

The 26-year-old midfielder made his debut for his new club.

In Round 18 against Skënderbeu (1:1), Mnatsakanyan:
• Played as a central defender
• Completed the full match

Araik Balasanov (Monopoli U19, Primavera 2 — Group B, Italy)

On January 17, the 18-year-old midfielder played against Cesena U19.

• 73 minutes played
• Heavy defeat — 0:6
• Balasanov has now started eight consecutive matches

Solomon Udo (Al-Arabi, Saudi First Division)

The 30-year-old Armenia international midfielder once again played a full match.

• Loss to Al-Jandal — 0:1
• SofaScore rating: 6.8
• 15 matches this season — all as a starter

Udo’s team sits 16th in the table, inside the relegation zone.

Milan Gharibyan (Clermont U19, France)

The 17-year-old attacking midfielder played 87 minutes in a 2:1 victory over Sochaux U19.

• Fifth consecutive win for Clermont U19
• League leaders, six points clear of Lyon U19
• Gharibyan’s season stats: 13 matches, 4 goals, 1 assist

Artur Zakharyan (Stade Briochin, National, France)

The 28-year-old midfielder played the full match in Round 17 against Quevilly (0:0).

• Season stats: 16 matches, 1 goal, 2 assists
• Team sits bottom of the table with 8 points following promotion

Friendly Matches

There were plenty of friendlies this week, though not all clubs published lineups. We highlight the most notable matches involving Armenian footballers.

Pavel Gorelov & Tigran Avanesyan (Orenburg, Russia)

In a friendly against Uzbekistan’s Surkhon:

• Both Armenian midfielders played one half each
• Orenburg won 4:1
• Pavel Gorelov scored
• Tigran Avanesyan is currently on trial

Nair Tiknizyan (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia)

On January 15, the Armenia national team defender played 90 minutes against Salzburg (0:2).

This match concluded Crvena Zvezda’s preseason. On January 22, the Belgrade side will face Malmö in the Europa League.

Georgi Harutyunyan (Puskás Akadémia, Hungary)

In a friendly against Slovan Liberec:

• Harutyunyan came on in the second half
• Loss — 0:1

The Hungarian league resumes on January 24 with a match against Paks.

Vahan Bichakhchyan (Legia Warsaw, Poland)

The Armenia international midfielder played one half in each of two friendlies:

• vs Sigma — 1:0
• vs Polissya — 0:0

Another friendly is scheduled for January 22 against Sparta Prague. The Polish league restarts on March 1.

Valeriy Tsarukyan (Akhmat, Russia — on trial)

The 24-year-old attacking midfielder received limited minutes in matches against:

• Novi Pazar — 0:1
• OFK Belgrade — 3:0

His future at Akhmat remains uncertain.

Ognjen Čančarević (IMT, Serbia)

The Armenia national team goalkeeper made his debut for his new club.

• Played the first half against Dynamo Makhachkala
• Loss — 0:2
• Conceded one goal from the penalty spot

Weekly Summary

It was a packed week for Armenian footballers, with appearances across Serie A, the Bundesliga, leagues in France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, as well as youth competitions and lower divisions throughout Europe. European competitions and domestic leagues are set to resume in the coming days, promising even more action to follow.

Stay tuned for the next editions of our weekly review on Sportaran.com — we continue to closely monitor every Armenian footballer abroad.