Who are Dundalk’s European opponents FCI Levadia Tallinn?

A. Le Coq Arena is home to FCI Levadia Tallinn

A. Le Coq Arena is home to FCI Levadia Tallinn Credit: Macdara Ferris (ETPhotos)

On Thursday Dundalk will take on Estonian side FCI Levadia Tallinn in Tallaght Stadium in the UEFA Europa Conference League second qualifying round first leg. 

So who are FCI Levadia Tallinn?

FCI Levadia, who play in the 14,000 capacity A. Le Coq Arena, is a merger formed after the 2017 season of the two Tallinn clubs FCI and Levadia who finished fourth and second respectively in the ten team Meistrilliga that year. 

They finished third in the league last season to earn them a place in the inaugural UEFA Conference League. 

What European pedigree do they have?

They earned their spot in this round after a 4-2 aggregate win over St. Joseph’s from Gibraltar. They last time they progressed through a round in Europe prior to this year was the 2016/17 Europa League when they beat Faroe Island side HB 3-1 before losing the next round on away goals to Slavia Prague.

Levadia were recently eliminated in consecutive seasons by League of Ireland sides.

Dundalk won 3-1 on aggregate in 2018 and the previous year they were beaten 6-2 on aggregate including a 2-1 defeat in Estonia by Cork City. 

Who to watch out for? 

Georgian international  Zakaria Beglarishvili has scored 14 goals from 16 league games this season and got the opener in the 3-1 home win over St. Joseph’s in the last round. Estonian striker Robert Kriss is on nine goals for the league campaign.



They are captained by Brent Lepistu who has been capped 13 times at international level with Estonia. He was sent off for two yellow cards in the first leg against St. Joesph’s and missed the 1-1 drawn second leg due to suspension. 

Who will the winners face in the UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round

The winners of this will take on Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in the next round with the tie to be played on 5 and 12 August.

What are their most recent results?

Levadia are top of the Meistiliiga four points clear of Flora Tallinn and have won their last six league matches in a row. In their 17 matches played so far this season, they have only dropped eight points.

Who is the match official for this tie?



It is a team of Czech officials for Thursday’s game in Dublin 24. Miroslav Zelinka will be the referee.

 

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile