Albania, riot damage, low crowds but worth the trip - Game 1

Last minute idea to do a short trip to the Balkans, making the most of mid-week games and getting slowly towards watching a game in every country in Europe. Plan to fly into the capital early on the Wednesday and then bus to Montenegro on Friday and fly back to UK Monday.

Flight was cheap, on time from Stansted and easy to get shuttle bus to city centre (£2 - pay on bus) - city was in middle of student riots but in fact most people just ignored the protests, police station 100 metres from my hotel was smashed up, but police just moved to the bar opposite and set up camp there. Fixture wise - my main fixture was moved from Wednesday to Thursday and then a few days later the venue moved from their own home to the seaside 20 plus miles away.

But Futbology came up trumps with an extra game on Wednesday

Wednesday 28 October 2026 - 2pm
FK Partizan Under 19 0 FC Hradec Kralove U19 6
UEFA Youth League
House of Football

Admission: £5
Attendance: 250 plus

Large modern sports complex, owned by Albania FA - 3 pitches, 2 with lights and a large stand between 2 of the pitches. Short walk from city centre and very close to stadium of FK Tirana. Tickets on sale at gate ( for ticket collectors, plain tickets at all 3 games in Albania, all of same design). Pitch in great condition, complex surrounded by very modern apartment blocks. No refreshments on sale at game.

Close first half but the Czechs were the better team and went in at the break one up after scoring just before the half time whistle.

56th minute saw the best chance for the home team but a minute later they were down to 10 men after one of the home players got a second yellow card. This was the signal for a home team collapse as the visitors added a further 5 goals in the last 33 minutes.

Had decided on a taxi to second game and was meeting it my hotel, only just made it as police had shut a few side streets off as students moved towards the main square.