The 2019–20 Kategoria e Parë was the 72nd official season of the Albanian football second-tier since its establishment. The season began on 14 September 2019 and ended on 29 July 2020. There were 20 teams competing this season, split in 2 groups, each with 10 teams. The 2 winners of each group gained promotion to the 2020-21 Kategoria Superiore, and played the division's final against each other. The runners-up of each group played a play-off match between them. The winners of the play-off played another promotion play-off match against the 8th ranked team of the 2019–20 Kategoria Superiore. Apolonia and Kastrioti were promoted to the 2020–21 Kategoria Superiore. Devolli, Iliria, Shënkolli, Shkumbini and Tërbuni were relegated to the 2020–21 Kategoria e Dytë. Apolonia won their fifth Kategoria e Parë title on 22 July 2020 after beating Kastrioti in the final match. The competition was completely suspended from 12 March to 7 June 2020, due to a pandemic of COVID-19 in Albania.
Changes from last season Team changes From Kategoria e Parë Promoted to Kategoria Superiore: Bylis Vllaznia
Relegated to Kategoria e Dytë: Tomori Vora
To Kategoria e Parë Relegated from Kategoria Superiore: Kastrioti
Promoted from Kategoria e Dytë: Devolli Shkumbini Tërbuni
Locations
Stadia by capacity and locations Group A Team Location Stadium Capacity Besëlidhja Lezhë Brian Filipi Stadium 5,000 Burreli Burrel Liri Ballabani Stadium 2,500 Dinamo Tirana Tirana Internacional Complex 1,000 Egnatia Rrogozhinë Egnatia Stadium 4,000 Erzeni Shijak Tofik Jashari Stadium 4,000 Kastrioti Krujë Kastrioti Stadium 8,400 Korabi Peshkopi Korabi Stadium 6,000 Shkumbini Peqin Shkumbini Stadium 5,000 Tërbuni Pukë Ismail Xhemali Stadium 1,950 Veleçiku Koplik Kompleksi Vellezërit Duli 2,000
Group B Team Location Stadium Capacity Apolonia Fier Loni Papuçiu Stadium 6,800 Besa Kavajë Besa Stadium 8,000 Devolli Bilisht Bilisht Stadium 1,050 Elbasani Elbasan Elbasan Arena 12,800 Iliria Fushë-Krujë Redi Maloku Stadium 3,000 Lushnja Lushnjë Abdurrahman Roza Haxhiu Stadium 8,500 Oriku Orikum Petro Ruci Stadium 2,000 Pogradeci Pogradec Gjorgji Kyçyku Stadium 10,700 Shënkolli Shënkoll Shënkoll Stadium 500 Turbina Cërrik Nexhip Trungu Stadium 6,600
First phase
Group A
Group B
Second phase Promotion round Group A
Group B
Relegation round Group A
Group B
Final
Promotion play-off
Besëlidhja qualified to the final play-off match.
Relegation play-offs
Both teams remained in their respective leagues.
Partizani B were promoted to the Kategoria e Parë, while Devolli were relegated to the Kategoria e Dytë.
Season statistics
Scoring
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1 Klodian NuriElbasani172 Mario GjataApolonia16 Mikel CankaLushnja4 Artion AlillariPogradeci12 Iran da ConceiçãoBesa Xhuliano SkukaKorabi
References