3 Best Football Leagues in Eastern Europe

By: Olena

Posted: July 23, 2021

Updated: July 23, 2021

There are leagues to follow in Europe besides EPL, Bundesliga, and La Liga
Hungarians became a breakthrough after the European Championship 2020
Czech First League and Ukrainian PL are worth football fans’ attention

The 2021/22 football season is about to start soon. This August, the most popular domestic leagues in Europe are back. Besides such giants as EPL, La Liga, or Bundesliga, there are also a couple of championships fans can follow this time. Check out the best football leagues in Eastern Europe that won’t leave you disappointed. Every football fan will agree that English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 belong to the five most-watched football leagues in Europe. They annually attract millions of viewers, while players from the leagues become international superstars. In addition, the top-5 European football leagues have the biggest popularity among bettors at online gambling sites in Czechia. Besides these overhyped championships, football fans can add less popular leagues to their must-watch list. So, if you are tired of the same faces but would like to enjoy great games, follow one of the three best football leagues in Eastern Europe.

Ukrainian Premier League is worth football fans’ attention

The Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) is a top-tier division of the football championship in Ukraine. It was first established in 1991 as Vyshcha Liha (Top League) and got its current name in 2008. This year, Ukrainians showed themselves from their best side at European Championship, so you can follow their league in 2021/22. First of all, UPL is known for its famous derby. Like most European leagues, Ukrainians have two clubs aka eternal rivals fighting for the leadership. They are Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kyiv. Dynamo is the most famous club in Ukraine as well as the most successful one. During its long history, the club has won 16 UPL titles, 13 Ukrainian Cup titles, and several international prizes. Also, two players from Dynamo Kyiv - Oleh Blokhin and Ihor Belanov - won Ballon d’Or, having set the best result among Ukrainian clubs.

While Dynamo’s biggest success was in the 1980s-1990s, Shakhtar Donetsk has risen during the last decades. The club has won 13 UPL titles since 2001 and is often a participant in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. Other popular clubs include Karpaty Lviv, Zorya Luhansk, Metalist Kharkiv, and Dnipro.

You can follow Czech First League in 2021/22

Like the Ukrainian squad, the Czech national team became one of the biggest surprises of the year. The team has reached the 2020 Euro quarterfinals having defeated the Netherlands. Although the team was knocked out by Denmark in the next round, Czech Republic players showed themselves as a great team. All this has led to the rise of interest in the First League at online sportsbooks in the Czech Republic. Czech First League is the top football competition in the country. Founded in 1993, the league is mostly known as Fortuna Liga nowadays and is ranked 17th according to UEFA. So, if you want to follow one of the best football leagues in Eastern Europe, add this one to your calendar. Currently, Slavia Prague is the most successful club of the Czech First League. The club has won 7 titles - six of them in the 21st century. Although Sparta Prague is considered the best club in Czechia with 13 titles, it is Slavia you can bet on to win this season at Bet365.

Hungarian NB I is one of the best football leagues in Eastern Europe

All in all, Hungarian football players have become the biggest surprise in European football this year. The national team’s brilliant performance at the European Championship 2020 made the Hungarian league a must-watch for all fans. As you remember, Hungary entered the “Group of Death” at this year’s Euro along with France, Germany, and Portugal. Although the country failed to reach the next stage, it gave a fight to all favorites of the championship. As a result, football fans in Europe fell in love with the Hungarian team. If you are one of them, you should join in watching the Nemzeti Bajnokság. Nemzeti Bajnokság (NB I) is the top-tier competition in Hungary. Also known as the OTP Bank Liga, it is worth watching at least for Ferencvaros. This football club is the most successful in Hungary with 32 titles and the best odds to win the next season at Bet365 Sportsbook. With their new manager Peter Stöger, the club is predicted to perform well in the Champions League, so don’t waste a chance to follow its success both on the international and domestic levels.