Flights booked, hotel sorted, jerseys cleaned - match switched, bus booked, we’re finally ready to go!
It’s a special time of year, as we trek off together to support our local club against the mini and mighty of European teams, armed with flags and banners, ready to cheer on our side in whatever nook or cranny of Europe UEFA sent us.
The draw has been rather kind in the last number of years, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Belgium, and now Estonia, completing our trio of Baltic trips, having lost to Latvian side Metalurgs, and beaten Lithuania’s FC Ekranes in years gone by.
Travelling City fans probably know every imaginable route from the south of Ireland to the Western city of Pärnu, Estonia’s fourth largest, with a population of just under 40,000. Moreover, we’ll have a good idea of how Estonia ranks, with Irish sides having only lost once to opposition from the Baltic country (Levadia beating Bohs in a shock at home), but what do we know about this current Tallinn team?
1. They were the ‘worst’ seeded team in City’s group by co-efficient
With just 4.050 Levadia were the lowest seeded team in the group. They have 0.975 in the UEFA 5 year ranking, compared to 0.7 for Linfield and 2.92 for BK Häcken, both of whom City beat in last year’s competition.
Levadia last played Irish opposition in the 2008-09 Champions League, where they lost both legs to Drogheda United, who later almost knocked out Dinamo Kyiv.
City are rated 1.115, so are even ahead of the Estonian side, despite being a point and a half behind on the coefficient ranking. The factory side have had a mixed record in the competition, winning four out of their last five first round games in Europe, however against teams from Lithuania, Wales, San Marino, and HB from the Faroe Islands, not exactly European powerhouses.
The Tallinn side lost their Champions League first round tie against Crusaders, a year and a half after the Northeners were smashed 9-1 on aggregate by Sligo Rovers.
No doubt Levadia’s biggest single result was last year’s 3-1 home defeat of Slavia Prague, something which the Leersiders have failed to do in four attempts. However, looking at the highlights it was clear the Czech side’s defence was in disarray; a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture saw Slavia progress on away goals.
2. They too are unbeaten
But, with four draws against leaders Flora, Nömme Kalju, and fifth placed Trans, Igor Prins’ side have failed to make it count against teams around them in the table.
A scrappy 1-0 win against FCI is their only win against top 5 opposition thus far in the league, and some huge victories against some poor looking sides - including two comical goals thrown away by Paide in a recent fixture – have handed Levadia some easy points. Last Monday they stuttered to a 1-1 draw against 8th placed Sillamäe Kalev, dropping a further two points to their city rivals.
The side have played second fiddle to Flora in the last few seasons, and this city derby is set to be especially tight this year, it remains to be seen whether Levadia will be able to make up that four points between them at the moment.
3. They’re sharp up front
Certainly the stats suggest they are extremely close, if not as prolific as our very own Rebel Army. In 17 games the capital side have netted 48 goals in 17 games (2.66 goals a game), that’s in comparison to City’s 52 goals in 18 games (2.88) thus far in the Airtricity Premier Division.
Leading scorer this season and captain Rimo Hunt looks to be a decent player, scoring 11 goals this season, all from play. The now 31-year-old had a brief stint with the national team, having scored 22 goals in the 2013 season with Levadia, but after an unsuccessful two season spell at Kazakh outfit Kaisar Kyzylorda, has only began to hit his stride again back in Tallinn.
The other one to watch from a City perspective is Middlesbrough loanee João Morelli, who has bagged seven goals in the Meistriliiga, on the back of goals with Boro in the U23 league. Morelli is a fast-footed winger with a good habit of being in the right place in the right time, and despite being just 5’11, can also head a ball home.
Plenty to keep Alan Bennett and Ryan Delaney occupied, City conceding just 9 goals thus far in the league in 18 games, and having conceded just two goals in three away games in the Europa League last year.
4. They won’t have many supporters
Levadia’s ground is currently under renovation, which sees the Tallinn side currently nomadic around their own city. In their native Kadrioru staadion, they draw on average 279 supporters, with 144 the minimum. However that average drops by almost 100 since they’ve moved to their new ground at the Kunstmuruväljak complex in Maarjamäe, about a 10 minute drive away.
Moving,meanwhile, to Pärnu, almost two hours away, it will be interesting to see how that average 182 at Maarjamäe travels to see Cork City, who should have around 50 or so at least making the round trip from Ireland, joined by others around Europe. It will also be interesting to see how they can cope with a 6,000 screaming crowd breathing down their necks in Cork.
5. City need to play it safe in Estonia
John Caulfield’s men find themselves being in the strange position of favourites heading into the clash, and will have to make sure they know how to manage expectations. While City’s league-leading position did little to slow their progress, last year’s games against Linfield weren’t as comfortable as expected – thanks in no small part to Roy Carroll’s heroics – but the Rebel Army must make sure they’re not caught out.
A single goal victory in Estonia would be more than good enough to take back to Turner’s Cross, a second goal an absolute bonus from Pärnu. The Leesiders are more than capable of coming away with a good win, but need to make sure they’re on top form to put the tie to bed early.