At the heart of the Andorran capital's sports complex is the stadium that will host tonight's match between Maccabi and local champions FC Santa Coloma
It's fair to assume that not many of Maccabi Tel Aviv's senior squad have ever in their careers appeared in stadiums with a capacity of less than 2,000 spectators. But when the lads step out on the pitch tonight at Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, they will find themselves in only one of two stadiums where the Andorran Primera Divisio play all their league matches, and the only one approved for international fixtures. The four rows of chairs painted in the national colours lining the length of one side of the pitch provide all the required seating for the dozens, perhaps hundreds of supporters who pitch up for the local side's international contests. Nonetheless, this is unquestionably FC Santa Coloma's home venue, where in their last three European ties the team have conceded just one goal.
Nestled under pastoral skies, with the peaks of the Pyrenees looming in the background, Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella provides the Andorran champions with a home refuge owing largely to its familiarity and the prevailing weather. Israeli internationals who have played there tell of the strong winds that interfere with ball movement and temperatures that plummet after sundown. The pitch condition is also nothing to write home about and it would appear there is more interest in investing in the running track that surrounds the pitch and in other athletic facilities that serve the local sporting community. Just two weeks ago, though, Armenian champions FC Banants lost there to the home side 1-0 and made an early exit from the Champions League after a 3-3 draw in the return leg in Armenia.
As do all the teams in the Andorran Primera Divisio, FC Santa Coloma play all their league fixtures at the Camp d’Esports d’Aixovall in the parish of Sant Julia de Loria, officially named DEVK-Arena due to a sponsorship arrangement. There the seating capacity is even smaller than at the Estadi Comunal d'Andorra la Vella, 900 in all, reason enough to choose the latter for European competitions. Now that may not make for the thunderous crowds heard in Maccabi's European campaign last season in Frankfurt and Basel. But if nothing else, history tells us that home advantage is still home advantage, and you can't argue with history. As a very famous Dorothy once said, there's no place like home.
