4pm 21 September 2025
Albania, Kategoria Superiore
Dinamo City 0 Bylis Ballsh 0 (att 700)
In 2001 I was in Tirana expecting to see England's under 21 side play their Albanian counterparts at the city's Selman Stërmasi Stadium. Frustratingly, and at short notice, concerns about the pitch meant the fixture was moved to the national stadium.
That meant I failed to tick a new ground on that trip, having already been to the Qemal Stafa Stadium in 1989. This time though, an unexpected venue change worked in my favour.
Dinamo City, who used to be Dinamo Tiranë, have been nomadic so far this season, with most home games played at Elbasan. For reasons unknown, to me at least, this one was moved to the Selman Stërmasi Stadium.
It was something of a homecoming, as in the communist era the ground was called the Dinamo Stadium and was, as that name suggests, their primary home ground. These days the signage makes clear that FK Tirana are the main tenants.
It's an easy walk from the city centre, and a ground we'd taken a look at in 1989. The inside of the stadium hasn't changed hugely in the years since, although a running track that I recall enclosed the pitch is long gone.
There are seats along both sides. If there were once seats at either end they're now out of bounds. The only cover is provided by the main stand.
On a punishingly hot and humid Sunday afternoon this was a better game that the goalless outcome might suggest.
Both sides missed good chances to break the deadlock, with the visitors being the most culpable. A red card for Bylis, after a VAR review, looked harsh to me until I saw the reply.
That was about midway through the second half. Dinamo City tried to make the man advantage pay, while the visitors threatened on the break despite looking content with a point. A draw was a fair outcome.
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