7pm 20 September 2025
Albania, Kategoria Superiore
Partizani Tiranë 0 Elbasani 1 (att 1,600)
My third visit to Albania, but my first that was primarily for a holiday rather than to see England games. That said, my holiday itineraries usually involve watching some football.
The country, and most certainly the capital Tirana, has changed a lot since my last visit in 2001. And it's almost entirely unrecognisable since I was first there in communist-era 1989.
One recent change has been the opening of Partizani's own stadium, the Arena e Demave, about three miles north-west of the city centre. It's easily, and cheaply, reached by bus.
Spectators have a choice of seats in covered stands on either side of the pitch, while the ends are given over to advertising.
On one side the main stand includes changing rooms, dugouts and the VIP seats, while the opposite side includes areas for both clubs' 'ultras', wisely kept well apart.
The ultras' enthusiasm helped ensure an entertaining evening, despite there being few clear chances for either side.
The only goal game after 37 minutes. Partizani's hopes of getting level suffered a fatal blow when they had a player sent off, for a second booking, with around half-an-hour left to play.
Despite being a man down they tried hard to equalise, but at best they created just half chances.
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