Cyprus - First Division

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The Cypriot First Division, or Cyta Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the top football league operated by the Cypriot Football Association. This league started its activity 85 years ago but ran into a few problems during its early years. The Cypriot top-flight stopped its activity from 1941 to 1944 due to World War II, while its clubs decided not to play the 1958-59 season. The 1963-64 season was abandoned by all teams, but the league has not been brought to a halt since then. The Cypriot First Division is ranked 16th in UEFA’s coefficient system.

Twelve teams battle for the title every year, and even though the format has had some minor adjustments, it’s not that complicated. The twelve teams will play 22 regular-season games, and then, the top six teams will enter a championship playoff, where the team with the most points will earn the title. The six remaining clubs enter a relegation playoff, where the last two teams will be relegated to the Cypriot Second Division. There are four spots available to play in European competitions the following year: one for the preliminary stages of the UEFA Champions League (which goes to the champion), and three more to the first three runners-up of the championship round.

The 2018-19 season in this league concluded with APOEL winning their 28th domestic title, beating Larnaca by eight points. Apollon and AEL Limassol joined Larnaca in their quest for a spot in the UEFA Europa League, while Alki Oroklini and Ernis were relegated to the Cypriot Second Division.

The 2019-20 season of the Cypriot First Division will kick off on August 23, 2019, and its final game is scheduled to be played in May 2020. The two teams that were promoted from the Cypriot Second Division are Ethnikos Achna and Olympiakos Nicosia, although none of them will be new to the league. In fact, Olympiakos Nicosia has won three Cypriot First Division titles, while Ethnikos has played 31 seasons in the Cypriot top-flight without winning a title.

Did you know? Besides being the most winning team in Cypriot football, APOEL also owns the record for most consecutive titles. That streak began in 2013 and is still going. Up until now, the blue and yellow club has won seven titles in a row, surpassing the feat accomplished by Omonia between 1974 and 1979.