Estonia’s two most recognised clubs are set to draw battle once more for this season’s Meistriliiga crown. The nation’s domestic league is drawing to a close with only nine matches remaining, with Levadia Talinn and Flora Talinn separated by a meagre two points. While reigning champions Levadia have only suffered one defeat in their last 25 league matches, Flora have produced equal resolve with a 20 matches unbeaten. At stake is an elusive Champions League qualifying position and neither club will want to concede to their city rivals, with the runners-up having to settle for a solitary UEFA Cup spot.
Should history be a decisive predictor of the league outcome then it will sway in the favour of Flora Talinn – who have been crowned victors on seven occasions since 1991 and most recently three consecutive titles between 2001 and 2003. Levadia Talinn won their first league in 1999 and repeated the feat in a total of five seasons, including in 2006 and 2007. The outstanding remaining fixture witnesses the ‘Clash of the [Estonian] Titans’ on October 18 as Levadia greet Flora in a cross-city tussle. Levadia Talinn will be confident they can increase the gap in the championship race in the cliché six-pointer having overcome Flora 2-0 in an away fixture previously in the season – the two other results ended in stalemate as draws.
2005 champions TVMK are favourites to claim third-place having opened up a ten-point advantage over nearest rivals Trans Narva. One of Tulevik Viljandi or Vaprus Parnu will almost certainly face immediate relegation, depending on which team is stranded at 10th place while the other battles for their division status in a relegation playoff.
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