2016–17 Kategoria Superiore

The 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore was the 78th official season, or 81st season of top-tier football in Albania (including three unofficial championships during World War II) and the 17th season under the name Kategoria Superiore. Skënderbeu were the defending champions. The season began on 7 September 2016 and concluded on 27 May 2017.

Kategoria Superiore

Season	2016–17
Dates	7 September 2016 – 27 May 2017
Champions	Kukësi 1st Albanian title
Relegated	Tirana Korabi
Champions League	Kukësi
Europa League	Partizani Skënderbeu Tirana
Matches played	180
Goals scored	340 (1.89 per match)
Top goalscorer	Pero Pejić (28 goals)
Biggest home win	Flamurtari 6–0 Korabi (1 April 2017)^[1]
Biggest away win	Korabi 0–4 Luftëtari (22 April 2017)^[2] Laçi 1–5 Skënderbeu (23 April 2017)^[3] Korabi 0–4 Teuta (6 May 2017)^[4]
Highest scoring	Skënderbeu 4–3 Vllaznia (6 May 2017)^[5]
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

On 20 May 2017, Kukësi defeated the reigning champions Skënderbeu 2–0 to clinch their first-ever league title, in only their fifth season in the top-flight.^[6]

Teams

Changes

Ten teams competed in the league – the top eight teams from the previous season, as well as two teams promoted from the Kategoria e Parë. Korabi defeated Ada 1–0 at the Reshit Rusi Stadium on the final matchday of the regular season in Group A of the Kategoria e Parë to secure promotion to the Kategoria Superiore after a 54-year absence.^[7][8] Luftëtari were then promoted back to Albanian Superliga after a three-year absence as they defeated Apolonia Fier on the final matchday of the regular season in Group B of the Kategoria e Parë.^[9][10] The two promoted clubs replace Bylis and Tërbuni.

Locations

 

 

Flamurtari

 

Luftëtari

 

Korabi

 

Kukësi

 

Laçi

 

Partizani

 

Skënderbeu

 

Teuta

 

Tirana

 

Vllaznia

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Locations of the 2016–17 Kategoria Superiore teams

Team	Home city	Stadium	Capacity	2015–16 season
Flamurtari	Vlorë	Flamurtari Stadium	8,200	8th
Korabi	Peshkopi	Selman Stërmasi Stadium^(1)	9,600	Kategoria e Parë
Kukësi	Kukës	Zeqir Ymeri Stadium	5,000	3rd
Laçi	Laç	Laçi Stadium	4,300	7th
Luftëtari	Gjirokastër	Gjirokastra Stadium	8,400	Kategoria e Parë
Partizani	Tirana	Selman Stërmasi Stadium^(2)	9,500	2nd
Skënderbeu	Korçë	Skënderbeu Stadium	8,724	Champions
Teuta	Durrës	Niko Dovana Stadium	12,040	4th
Tirana	Tirana	Selman Stërmasi Stadium	9,600	5th
Vllaznia	Shkodër	Loro Boriçi Stadium	16,022	6th

• (1) Korabi play their 2016–17 home games at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana. The club's regular home ground, the Korabi Stadium, does not meet the league's licensing criteria to host games.
• (2) Partizani play their 2016–17 home games at the Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana. The club's former home ground, the Qemal Stafa Stadium, was demolished and their new home ground at the Partizani Complex is currently under construction.

Stadiums

Flamurtari	Korabi	Kukësi	Laçi	Luftëtari
Flamurtari Stadium	Selman Stërmasi Stadium	Zeqir Ymeri Stadium	Laçi Stadium	Gjirokastra Stadium
Capacity: 8,200	Capacity: 9,600	Capacity: 5,000	Capacity: 2,300	Capacity: 8,400
Partizani	Skënderbeu	Teuta	Tirana	Vllaznia
Selman Stërmasi Stadium	Skënderbeu Stadium	Niko Dovana Stadium	Selman Stërmasi Stadium	Loro Boriçi Stadium
Capacity: 9,600	Capacity: 12,000	Capacity: 12,040	Capacity: 9,600	Capacity: 16,022

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Kukësi (C)	36	20	15	1	51	18	+33	75	Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round
2	Partizani	36	19	15	2	46	17	+29	72^[a]	Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
3	Skënderbeu	36	21	9	6	45	22	+23	72^[a]
4	Luftëtari	36	11	11	14	37	45	−8	44
5	Teuta	36	10	10	16	27	34	−7	40
6	Laçi	36	10	10	16	23	35	−12	40
7	Vllaznia	36	8	16	12	29	35	−6	40
8	Flamurtari^[b]	36	12	10	14	42	34	+8	40
9	Tirana (R)	36	8	15	13	29	32	−3	39	Europa League qualifying and relegation to Kategoria e Parë^[c]
10	Korabi (R)	36	2	7	27	11	68	−57	13	Relegation to the 2017–18 Kategoria e Parë

Source: Albanian Football Association (in Albanian), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Draw.^[12]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Partizani ahead of Skënderbeu on head-to-head record; Partizani–Skënderbeu 0–0, Skënderbeu–Partizani 1–2, Partizani–Skënderbeu 1–0, Skënderbeu–Partizani 2–2.
2. Flamurtari were deducted six points for failing to fulfill financial obligations.^[11]
3. Tirana qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Albanian Cup.

Results

Each team plays every opponent four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 36 games.

First half of season Home \ Away FLA KOR KUK LAÇ LUF PAR SKË TEU TIR VLL Flamurtari — 4–1 1–1 1–0 5–0 1–1 2–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 Korabi 1–0 — 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 0–0 Kukësi 1–0 2–0 — 2–0 1–0 1–0 2–0 3–0 0–0 3–1 Laçi 1–1 1–0 0–0 — 2–2 0–2 0–1 0–2 0–0 1–0 Luftëtari 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 — 1–1 0–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 Partizani 4–0 1–0 0–0 2–0 1–0 — 0–0 1–0 0–0 0–0 Skënderbeu 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 1–2 — 1–0 2–0 3–0 Teuta 1–2 2–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 0–2 0–0 — 0–0 0–0 Tirana 3–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 3–1 — 0–0 Vllaznia 2–0 3–0 0–0 1–2 2–3 1–1 0–0 1–0 0–0 — Source: Albanian Football Association Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second half of season Home \ Away FLA KOR KUK LAÇ LUF PAR SKË TEU TIR VLL Flamurtari — 6–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 Korabi 0–3 — 1–3 0–1 0–4 0–2 0–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 Kukësi 1–0 4–0 — 2–1 3–2 0–0 2–0 1–0 4–1 0–0 Laçi 1–0 2–0 0–0 — 2–1 0–1 1–5 2–1 1–0 3–0 Luftëtari 1–2 2–0 1–0 1–1 — 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 Partizani 2–1 3–0 1–1 0–0 2–0 — 1–0 5–1 2–1 2–1 Skënderbeu 1–0 3–0 1–1 1–0 3–0 2–2 — 1–1 1–0 4–3 Teuta 0–0 1–0 0–2 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 — 1–0 1–0 Tirana 0–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–0 1–2 2–2 0–0 — 1–2 Vllaznia 3–2 1–1 0–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 0–1 0–0 0–0 — Source: Albanian Football Association Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches.

Team ╲ Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
Kukësi	7	2	3	3	2	3	3	3	3	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Partizani	2	3	2	2	3	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	1	2	2	2	2	3	3	2	2
Skënderbeu	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	1	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	2	2	3	3
Luftëtari	10	10	7	8	6	6	6	6	6	7	6	6	6	6	6	5	5	5	5	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Teuta	7	9	10	10	10	10	9	10	8	9	8	8	9	8	8	9	9	8	7	9	8	7	7	7	7	7	6	6	7	7	6	6	6	6	5	5
Laçi	7	6	8	7	9	9	7	7	9	8	7	7	8	9	9	8	8	9	9	8	9	8	8	9	9	8	9	8	8	9	9	9	9	8	9	6
Vllaznia	7	6	4	4	5	5	5	5	5	6	5	5	5	5	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	5	5	5	5	4	5	5	5	5	5	6	7
Flamurtari	9	4	5	5	8	7	8	8	7	5	9	9	7	7	7	7	7	7	8	7	7	9	9	8	8	9	8	9	9	8	8	7	7	7	8	8
Tirana	7	6	6	6	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	5	5	5	5	6	6	7	7	6	6	7	8	8	9	7	9
Korabi	7	8	9	9	7	8	10	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10

	Leader and UEFA Champions League second qualifying round
	UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
	2017–18 Kategoria e Parë

Source: FootballDatabase.eu

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of matches played on 27 May 2017.^[13]

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Pero Pejić	Kukësi	28
2	Caleb Ekuban	Partizani	17
3	Hamdi Salihi	Skënderbeu	15
4	Liridon Latifi	Skënderbeu	11
5	Tomislav Bušić	Flamurtari	10
6	Donjet Shkodra	Flamurtari	9
	Afrim Taku	Tirana
	Dejvi Bregu	Luftëtari
9	Izair Emini	Kukësi	8
	Idriz Batha	Partizani
	Reginaldo	Luftëtari
	James Adeniyi	Skënderbeu

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Albanian Superliga hat-tricks

Player	For	Against	Result	Date	Ref
Liridon Latifi	Skënderbeu	Laçi	5–1	23 April 2017	^[14]
Pero Pejić	Kukësi	Korabi	3–1	15 May 2017	^[15]

Note

⁴ Player scored 4 goals

Clean sheets

As of matches played on 27 May 2017.^[13]

Rank	Player	Club	Clean sheets
1	Orges Shehi	Skënderbeu	23
2	Alban Hoxha	Partizani	21
	Enea Koliqi	Kukësi
3	Ilion Lika	Tirana	17
4	Gentian Selmani	Tirana	15
6	Jasmin Agović	Vllaznia	13
7	Shpëtim Moçka	Teuta	11
8	Argjent Halili	Flamurtari	10
9	Shkëlzen Ruçi	Luftëtari	7

Discipline

As of matches played on 6 May 2017.

Player

• Most yellow cards: 12^[13]
  • Alfred Zefi (Korabi)
  • Vangjel Zguro (Lufëtari)
• Most red cards: 2^[13]
  • Arjan Sheta (Korabi)
  • Entonio Pashaj (Kukësi)
  • Stefan Cicmil (Vllaznia)
  • Erjon Vucaj (Tirana/Laçi)

Club

• Most yellow cards: 104^[13]
  • Luftëtari

• Most red cards: 7^[13]
  • Luftëtari
  • Korabi

References

1. "Flamurtari Vlorë vs. Korabi Peshkopi". Soccerway. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
2. "Korabi Peshkopi vs. Luftëtari Gjirokastër". Soccerway. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
3. "Laçi vs. Skënderbeu Korçë". Soccerway. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
4. "Korabi Peshkopi vs. Teuta Durrës". Soccerway. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
5. "Skënderbeu Korçë vs. Vllaznia Shkodër". Soccerway. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
6. "Minnows Kukes claim first Superliga title". Tirana Times. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
7. Senad Niksiqi (15 May 2016). "Korabi feston në Shkodër, në elitë pas 54 vitesh" [Korabi celebrates in Shkodër, in elite after 54 years] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
8. "Ada Velipojë vs. Korabi Peshkopi 0 – 1". Soccerway. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
9. "Luftëtari Gjirokastër vs. Apolonia Fier 2 – 1". Soccerway. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
10. Tomor Shehu (15 May 2016). "Luftëtari hap shampanjën e elitës" [Luftëtari opens the elite champagne] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
11. [Discipline Commission Decision]. Albanian Football Association (in Albanian). 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
12. "Superliga 2016/2017 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
13. "Summary - Superliga - Albania, Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
14. Erald Kodheli (23 April 2017). "Shkëlqen Latifi, Skënderbeu shkatërron Laçin" [Latifi shines, Skënderbeu destroys Laçi] (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
15. Rinald Bregasi (15 May 2017). "Kukësi nuk ndalet, mposht Korabin" [Kukësi doesn't stop, defeat Korabi] (in Albanian). Super Sport Albania. Retrieved 25 April 2017.^{[permanent dead link]}

External links

• Official website (in Albanian)
• Superliga at uefa.com
• Livescore