Albania

Albania – ranked 25th. Formula and structure: first, still 2 points were given for a win. First Division had 12 teams. The championship had 2 stages – first the regular league season and after that the top 6 played among themselves for the title. The bottom 6 played relegation tournament – last 2 teams were relegated. All teams carried on their first-stage records to the second stage.
The Second Division.
First, Naftetari (Qyteti Stalin), which won Second Division Group B in 1987-88, but lost the promotion/relegation play-off against Dinamo (Tirana) did not play at all this season. Their absence reduced the Second Division teams by one – 10 played in Group A and 9 in Group B. The formula was the same as in the First Division – two stages with points earned in first stage carried to the second. The group winners were promoted. Originally, the bottom half of the groups played for avoiding relegation – but this became immaterial at the end, for the system was restructured for the next system: Third Division was eliminated and all third division teams (plus Naftetari) were included in the Second Division, which was to have 3 groups. So, only the winners mattered and they were Tomori (Berat) in Group A and Luftetari (Gjirokaster) in Group B – both promoted to the top league.
First Division. The rule for point deduction for exceeding limit of red/yellow cards was still in force and thus Beselidhja (Lezhe) had 3 points deducted, Partizani (Tirana) – 2 points, and Apolonia (Fier) lost 1 point (Second Division 31 Korriku (Burrel) and Studenti (Tirana) had 4 points deducted). However, the rule was future-oriented: deductions were applied to the next season and did not affect the current one: all teams finished with full records – unlike the penalties in the Second Division, where deductions were applied to the current season.
Because records from stage were carried to the second, hardly any changes occurred in the final tournaments. Traktori (Lushnje) ended last and Skenderbeu (Korce) was 11th – both teams were relegated. They were in the same places in the opening stage and remained on the bottom in final stage.
Flamurtari (Vlore) was 2nd in the relegation group of the final stage, ending 8th overall – same as their first-stage finish.
Vllaznia (Shkoder) topped the relegation group, thus, ending 7th overall – they preserved their position in the opening stage as well.
In the championship group Beselidhja (Lezhe) stepped a place down – they were 5th in the opening stage, but 6th after the final stage. Very likely the season ended for them in the first stage.
Labinoti (Elbasan) moved up a place – from 6th in the opening stage to 5th after the final stage.
Apolonia (Fier) finsihed 4th with 33 points – no change at all.
Dinamo (Tirana) was 3rd with 42 points. Same place in first and second stage.
Partizani (Tirana) – 2nd with 45 points. They really tried to run for the title, but remained second-best in both stages.
17 Nentori (Tirana) won the title just like they did the previous season. First in the opening stage with 32 points and first in the second stage again, adding 16 more points. At the end they had 48 points from 21 wins, 6 draws, and 5 losses. 58-25 goal-difference. This was their 14th title, thus equalizing Partizani (Tirana) and Dinamo (Tirana) record.
The Cup final was Tirana derby – Partizani vs Dinamo. The clash ended scoreless 0-0 and a replay was staged. In the second match Dinamo won 3-1.
Partizani finished this season with nothing – twice second meant no trophy, a real disappointment.
Dinamo (Tirana) was quite happy with winning the Cup – the championship was lost, but a trophy was won anyway. Thus, they won their 11th Cup and equalized Partizani (Tirana) record.
If anything, this season made the future exciting – who would be the most successful Albanian club? Three teams won equal number of titles and 2 equal number of Cup.