Inter d’Escaldes make history as first Andorran club to reach a European league phase

Inter d’Escaldes have made history for Andorran football after securing qualification for the UEFA Conference League league phase, becoming the first club from Andorra to reach the main phase of a European competition.

Felip Ortiz’s side overcame Kosovo’s Drita in a dramatic tie that had to be decided on penalties after the second leg in Encamp finished 0-0 following extra time. The first leg in Pristina had ended 2-2, leaving everything to play for in Andorra.

Inter eventually prevailed from the penalty spot to seal an unprecedented achievement in the history of Andorran football.

A historic European campaign

The qualification caps an extraordinary European summer for the Escaldes-based club. Inter began their continental campaign in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, where they were eliminated by Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps.

They then continued their European journey in the Conference League, comfortably defeating Estonia’s Flora Tallinn 6-0 on aggregate before facing Drita in the final hurdle on the road to the league phase.

In the first leg in Kosovo, Drita took the lead twice, but goals from Domi Berlanga and David López allowed Inter to secure a 2-2 draw and bring the tie back to Andorra on level terms.

Neither side managed to break the deadlock during 90 minutes or extra time in Encamp, meaning the tie was ultimately decided by penalties, with Inter holding their nerve to secure a place in Andorran sporting history.

Andorra reaches the European league phase for the first time

Until now, no Andorran club had managed to progress through the qualifying rounds required to reach the main phase of a UEFA competition. Inter’s achievement therefore breaks a historic barrier for football in the Principality.

Qualification will also provide the club with a significant financial boost. According to VilaWeb, participation in the league phase will generate more than €3 million in revenue, with additional performance-related bonuses available depending on the team’s results.

Inter d’Escaldes will now play six matches in the UEFA Conference League league phase, three at home and three away, against six different opponents.

For the first time in history, Andorran football will have a representative competing in the main phase of a European club competition.