Moldovan Championship
The Moldovan Championship, or Super Liga, is the top tier of Moldovan football. Established in 1992 post-independence, it features 8-10 clubs vying for the national title and UEFA spots, serving as the cornerstone of domestic soccer.
History and foundation
Launched in 1992 by the Moldovan Football Federation, the first winner was Nistru Chisinau. Sheriff Tiraspol has dominated since the 2000s, clinching 20 titles by 2024, including a staggering 19 in a row from 2007-2022. Highlights include Sheriff's upsets in Europe, reaching Champions League groups and beating Real Madrid in 2021 qualifiers. Zaria Balti and Milas Mor challenged the monopoly recently.
Tournament format
The league uses a round-robin format: 8 teams play 30 matches (home and away), then split into Championship and Relegation groups of 6. Top finisher qualifies for Champions League, runner-up for Conference League. Season runs July to May with a winter break.
Interesting facts
Average goals per match hover at 2.5, with defensive battles common. All-time top scorer Vadim Rațiu netted 201 for Sheriff. Icons include Brazilian Joao Paulo (100+ goals), Radu Gînsari, and Adrian Ambros. Current stars: Serbian Dragan Nikolic and Ion Nicolaescu, fueling player exports to stronger leagues.