Olimpija Ljubljana crowned champions

Olimpija Ljubljana have won the Slovenian premier football league with one round to go, taking the title back after they had to concede to Celje the previous season.

Olimpija have been the dominant side throughout the season, chalking up 21 wins, ten draws and four defeats. Except for rounds 1 and 6, they have been topping the rankings throughout, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

They won their eighth title since independence by thrashing Radomlje 5:0 on home ground at Stožice Stadium, their fifth win against the same team this season.

With one more round to go, Olimpija command an unassailable 7-point lead ahead of their arch-rivals Maribor, who emerged champions 16 times since Slovenia went independent. Maribor are yet to play this round against Koper on 18 May.

The best individual of the season, Austrian winger Raul Florucz is the top scorer with 15 goals and ranks second in the chart of assists with a total eight this season.

Another key player for Olimpija has been captain Marcel Ratnik. Back after a month's break due to injury, he scored two of the five goals against Radomlje.

One of the main contributors to Olimpija's success is Victor Sanchez, the Spanish coach who took over at the club at the start of the season.

"This is the perfect ending, the players deserve this success, they have been outstanding from the start. Thanks to them and the staff, they have all done a great job and now it will be time to celebrate," Sanchez told Sport TV.

Goalkeeper Matevž Vidovšek, another key player, was thrilled about the success, his second championship title with the Ljubljana club.

"We all really wanted to secure the title earlier, but failed to make it true. After Maribor and Mura, we knew what we wanted, we needed those three points and we got them," he said in a reference to their loss against Maribor two rounds earlier and tie with Mura a week ago.

With the title Olimpija secured qualifications for the Champions League in the coming season.