Saturday 20 January 2018

Slovakia - 2017/18 Fortuna Liga


The Slovak Super Liga is the top level football league in Slovakia, currently known as the Fortuna Liga due to a sponsorship arrangement. It was formed in 1993 following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. The record for most titles is eight, held by Slovan Bratislava


The 2017–18 Slovak First Football League (known as the Slovak Fortuna Liga for sponsorship reasons) is the 25th season of first-tier football league in Slovakia, since its establishment in 1993. MŠK Žilina are the defending champions, after winning their 7th Slovak championship.

A total of 12 teams are contesting the league, including 11 sides from the 2016–17 season and one promoted from the 2. liga.
Withdraw of Spartak Myjava was confirmed on 21 December 2016. The withdrawn team was meant to be replaced initially by FC VSS Košice, but that team was rejected a promotion and went into bankruptcy. FC Nitra was promoted instead of VSS Košice.



Starting from this season, the competition format will be changed. The previous 33-match round robin structure is replaced by a regular season round of 22 games and a playoff round, where 12 teams are divided into two groups: championship group (top-6 teams after regular season) and relegation group (bottom 6 teams). The playoff round uses a 10-game round robin structure.
The top team in the championship group wins the league title and qualifies to next season's Champions League qualification; the runner-up and 3rd team obtain spots of next season's Europa League Qualification. The bottom team of the relegation group will be relegated to next season's 2. Liga and replaced by the 2. Liga winner. The second-bottom ranked team will play a two-leg relegation playoff with the runner-up of 2. Liga.
Should one of the top 3 teams be the winner of the 2017-18 Slovak Cup, Europa League qualification playoffs will be held among the 4th, 5th, 6th team in the championship group and the top team of the relegation round. The 4th team will play the top team of the relegation group and the 5th plays the 6th in the semifinals. Winners of the semifinals will play the final to determine the Europa League qualification spot. Europa League qualification playoff games will be one-leg and played at the home pitch of the higher-ranked team


The current title holders are MŠK Žilina


Source: http://www.fortunaliga.sk/

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