Topic
Kaliningrad and the stands
The city, the region, Rostec Arena and the fans — how the club, the city and the stands are changing the region's football life.
Essay · 6 min read
Borscht, Levin and a goal after 35 seconds. My first evening in an RPL press box
Notes from a Kaliningrad writer in a Moscow press box — a place where football has to be experienced a little…
Opinion · 10 min read
Why Baltika should at least try to reach an agreement with FC Kaliningrad
An argument for Baltika and FC Kaliningrad to find common ground.
Opinion · 10 min read
Currywurst, pies, bocadillo. What flavour does the Rostec Arena need?
Dortmund drinks 60,000 litres of beer a match, England argues about pies, Spain bans sunflower seeds.
Interactive · 5 min read
3.5% of the city in the stands: how Kaliningrad overtook Moscow, St Petersburg and Krasnodar
Stadium against city: a new metric rewrites the RPL attendance table.
Interactive · 6 min read
Eight years ago Modric, Iniesta and Courtois played here. Now Trinidad and Tobago are coming. An interactive guide
In 2018 the Island hosted Modric, Iniesta, Courtois and a future World Cup top four.
Essay · 5 min read
I watched all 30 Baltika matches this season. Here is what I learnt about myself
A text about a man who watched all 30 matches and became a superstitious, table-obsessed and slightly…
Essay · 3 min read
Baltika closes the season. And this is a match for Kaliningrad
The season finale turned into a triumph of local stubbornness.
Analysis · 3 min read
An island of found hopes and lost points: how Baltika got tangled in Artiga's nets
Fifteen thousand fans filled the stands expecting a celebration and got a masterclass in turning 54%…
Essay · 4 min read
Neman takes the field, and Baltika needs to wake up
Tomorrow's match against Rubin is dedicated to Neman — another reminder that the Kaliningrad region does not…
Analysis · 7 min read
Groundhog Day on the Island: how Baltika lost a match by forgetting to switch on the lights
Baltika slept through the first half, woke up in the second and found Akron had already changed the locks and…
Essay · 12 min read
Port clubs: what Baltika, Le Havre, Hamburg and the others born of the sea have in common
A theory: the most interesting clubs are often born not in capitals but where it smells of fish, engine oil…
Humour · 4 min read
Matchday of your favourite team: a chronicle of slowly going mad
An official document for supporters of all levels of degradation.
Numbers · 9 min read
Baltika already draws very well. But how to make a full stadium the norm rather than a holiday?
Kaliningrad is living through a football boom.
Essay · 5 min read
Sovetsk is the best argument that the region does not end with Kaliningrad
In the 80th anniversary year of the region Baltika dedicates every home match to one of its towns.
Profile · 5 min read
Kevin Andrade is one of the most underrated defenders in the RPL. He just plays for Baltika
Often captain, a fans' favourite and a centre-back with whom the team simply falls apart less.
Opinion · 4 min read
Baltika finally remembered that the region is not only Kaliningrad
In the region's anniversary year the club dedicates every home match to a separate town — and against the…
Essay · 6 min read
Baltika as a TV series: why you want to watch this Kaliningrad club to the credits
At first you follow Baltika just because.