September 24, 2020
Saturday 26th September
Viljandi Tulevik vs Kuressaare ( kick-off 13.00 local/11.00 UK )
Paide Linnameeskond vs Tallina Kalev ( kick-off 16.00 local/14.00 UK )
Sunday 27th September
Tallinna JK Legion vs Tartu Tammeka ( kick-off 13.00 local/11.00 UK )
Nomme Kalju vs Narva Trans ( kick-off 13.00 local/11.00 UK )
Levadia vs Flora ( kick-off 15.00 local/13.00 UK )
The big match of the weekend is undoubtedly the Levadia vs Flora Tallinn derby. Since the review prior to the Round 17 fixtures in mid-August, Levadia have taken 13 points from 5 matches, with four convincing victories and scoring 13 goals in the last 4 games. However, they still languish in third place 14 points behind Flora having played a game more, as Flora have won their 4 matches, and in the process extended their winning run to 8. Flora striker Rauno Sappinen has moved on to 21 goals for the season, 9 goals clear of the nearest challenger for the Golden Boot, and 12 ahead of Marcelin Gando, Levadia’s top scorer. However, given their recent good form, Levadia will be hopeful of avenging their 0-4 & 1-3 losses to Flora in June and July, and Bet365 currently have Levadia odds on favourites to win !
Paide have scored 14 goals in winning their 4 recent matches, extending their winning streak to 7 matches to sit in second place, one point ahead of Levadia from one match fewer. Ugandan Edrisa Lubega is the league’s second highest scorer on 12 goals. Kalev’s losing run is now 7 matches, and with only 9 points and 10 goals for the season, they are now 8 points away from a relegation play-off place and look certainties for automatic relegation. Having already beaten Kalev 8-1 and 4-0 already this season, anything other than an emphatic win for Paide is unthinkable, and they are currently 1/16 favourites to win……..
Nomme Kalju have slipped from second to fourth place. Despite three consecutive wins in August, since the postponement of their Europa League tie against Slovene side NS Mura due to an outbreak of Covid in both teams, Nomme heavily lost the rescheduled tie, which was moved to Hungary, and taken just one point from their last two league matches ( and they were lucky to draw with Tammeka ! ). A home match with Narva Trans, who have taken just one point ( a 0-0 home draw with lowly Kuressaare ) in their last 4 matches should give the Pink Panthers the opportunity for a much needed win.
Viljandi Tulevik remain incredible inconsistent and are still to draw a match this season. A run of 5 consecutive defeats was ended last time out with a 1-0 win in Narva. They sit in fifth place, 12 points adrift of fourth but with a cushion over their nearest challenges. A home match against free-falling Kuressaare, who have gone 11 matches since their last win, should see Tulevik consolidate their fifth place.
Tallinna Legion have shown recent signs of being able to overtake Kuressaare and move out of the relegation play-off position, with a win over Narva and a draw at Kuressaare in their last two outings to move to one point from safety. Russian striker Nikita Andreev has grabbed 5 goals in 6 matches and has gone some way to addressing Legion’s lack of goals. Legion will be hopeful of taking something from a home match with inconsistent Tartu Tammeka, and Legion have experience of victory over Tammeka, 3-1 in Tartu in July, but Tammeka have been much more reliable away from home and were only denied a home win against Nomme this week by a missed penalty, the inside of the post and a miss when it looked easier to score. Legion have only one home win this season. Could be a draw.
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