Superliga
Croatia's Ante Culina to referee Aarhus–Egnatia; champions begin a marathon of five games in 15 days
After a 1-1 draw with Midtjylland, Nevil Dede's side plays Thursday in Denmark and Sunday in Elbasan against Dinamo.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 20, 2026, 16:30 · Updated 12:22 · 1 min read
In brief
- UEFA appointed 33-year-old Croatian Ante Culina for Thursday's Aarhus–Egnatia match.
- Egnatia play five games from Oct. 22 to Nov. 5, including Teuta and Tirana in the league.
- Aarhus lost 1-0 in Gent in the first round; Egnatia drew 1-1 with Midtjylland.
Egnatia, the Albanian champions, return to Conference League league-phase action on Thursday, Oct. 22, with a trip to Denmark to face Aarhus. UEFA has entrusted the match to Croatian referee Ante Culina, 33, who has held the FIFA badge since 2023.
According to Albanian sports media, Culina has been at the center of controversy in the Croatian league over disputed penalties and lengthy VAR reviews. Albania's champions will thus have one more factor to watch out for in Aarhus.
Two champion sides
The match pits the champions of Denmark against the champions of Albania. In the first round, Egnatia earned a valuable point with a 1-1 draw against Midtjylland, while Aarhus lost 1-0 away at Gent. For both teams, this is a chance for a first win in the league phase, in which each team plays six matches against different opponents.
A packed schedule
For coach Nevil Dede, the challenge in Denmark is just the start of a grueling stretch. After Aarhus, Egnatia play Dinamo on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Elbasan Arena (6:30 p.m.), host Teuta on Oct. 29 in a head-to-head clash for first place, visit Tirana on Nov. 1 and travel to Romania on Nov. 5 for the Conference League match against Universitatea Craiova.
Five games in 15 days, including three away trips in the league and in Europe, will force the coaching staff to rotate players to avoid fatigue and injuries. The result in Aarhus may also determine the morale with which Egnatia enter the decisive weeks of the Superiore.
