Ballaban Badera, the new Ottoman sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Ohrid, was sent by Sultan Mehmed II to attack Albanian forces.
[9] Ballaban, conscious of the possibility of defeat, presented Skanderbeg with a series of gifts in the hopes that if the Ottoman commander was captured, the Albanian chieftain would mercifully spare him.
The day before the battle, he formulated his plan of action; he aimed to trick the Ottomans into thinking that his forces were too weak and too frightened to fight.
When the Ottomans were finally lured into the valley under a false sense of security, the Albanian warriors would attack them.
Nonetheless, Skanderbeg and the Albanians held their ground and were victorious despite their losses as the Ottomans soon began to flee.
[11] After the Ottomans regrouped with their newly-acquired captives, Ballaban ordered his men to march back to Constantinople with the prisoners.
[6] Among the Albanians captured by Ottoman soldiers after the battle were distinguished leaders such as Moisi Golemi, Vladan Gjurica (a relative of Skanderbeg), Muzakë Arianiti (a nephew of Skanderbeg), Gjin Muzaka, Gjon Përlati, Nikollë Berisha, Gjergj Kuka and Gjin Maneshi.