Band 4/5/6 Bulletin: Balkan Leagues Update

James Doolan brings us an update from some of the best talent producing leagues in Europe and highlights some players worth knowing about

Albania (Kategoria Superiore) (Band 6)

Title Race

The Albanian title race already feels finely balanced, with three sides all showing enough quality to believe they can go the distance. Elbasani look the most controlled and defensively secure, often winning games by managing moments rather than overwhelming opponents. Egnatia mirror that resilience but offer a bit more edge in the final third, giving them a genuine punch when matches tighten. Vllaznia, just behind them, play with a more open, expressive style that can swing games quickly when they click. Teuta and Dinamo City are close enough to take advantage of any slip, but both still lack the consistency to force themselves into the very top bracket.

Relegation Battle

The lower half feels just as tense, with very little separating mid-table comfort from real trouble. Vora, despite sitting in mid-table, are only ever a couple of poor results away from being dragged into the fight such is the league’s volatility. Partizani and Bylis both show worrying traits: they struggle to control games once they fall behind and often look vulnerable when defending for long spells. The biggest concerns, though, surround Flamurtari and KF Tirana. Flamurtari simply haven’t turned performances into wins, and Tirana look firmly in crisis, repeatedly undone by defensive mistakes and lacking the quality to steady themselves. As things stand, Tirana appear destined to go down unless something dramatic changes.